French Christmas Carol – Lyrics and Translation
Video with lyrics for the French Christmas carol Il est né, le divin enfant and the literal English translation. As far as I know, there’s no English-language equivalent to this song.
Listening comprehension: See the links at the bottom for lessons related to the phrases in italics.
| Il est né, le Divin Enfant | He is born, the Divine Child |
| Il est né, le Divin Enfant, Jouez hautbois, résonnez musette. Il est né, le Divin Enfant, Chantons tous son avènement. (Refrain) |
Translation
He is born, the Divine Child, [collapse]
|
| Depuis plus de quatre mille ans Nous le promettaient les prophètes, Depuis plus de quatre mille ans Nous attendions cet heureux temps. Refrain |
Translation
For more than four thousand years Chorus [collapse]
|
| Ah, qu’il est beau, qu’il est charmant, Ah, que ses grâces sont parfaites. Ah, qu’il est beau, qu’il est charmant, Qu’il est doux ce Divin Enfant. Refrain |
Translation
Oh, he’s so beautiful, he’s so delightful, Chorus [collapse]
|
| Une étable est son logement, Un peu de paille est sa couchette, Une étable est son logement, Pour un dieu quel abaissement. Refrain |
Translation
A stable is his lodging, Chorus [collapse]
|
| O Jésus, ô Roi tout puissant, Tout petit enfant que vous êtes, O Jésus, ô Roi tout puissant, Régnez sur nous entièrement. Refrain |
Translation
O Jesus, o all powerful King, Chorus [collapse]
|
| Video courtesy of Mister Toony. | Translation by LKL |
Listening comprehension
- Il est né – passé composé
- Jouez hautbois, Chantons – imperative
- son avènement, ses grâces – possessive adjectives
- Nous le promettaient les prophètes – indirect object
- Nous le promettaient les prophètes – direct object
- Nous le promettaient les prophètes, Nous attendions – imperfect
- cet heureux temps, ce Divin Enfant – demonstrative adjectives
- quel abaissement – exclamative adjective
- sur nous – stressed pronouns
Pronunciation
Why is divin enfant pronounced [div i nã fã] rather than [di vɛ̃ nã fã]? This is a result of the required liaison between divin and enfant: in, which is normally pronounced [ɛ̃], changes to [in] (it denasalizes and the vowel i changes pronunciation) in front of the vowel at the beginning of enfant.
French Christmas Links
- Christmas vocabulary
- Expression: Joyeux Noël !
- French Christmas carols
- Listening: Traditions de Noël françaises
- Quiz: Christmas terms
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