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Il est né, le divin enfant

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, Play the oboe, resonate musette. He is born, the Divine Child, Let us all sing his accession. (Chorus) [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 We’ve been promised by the prophets, For more than four thousand years We’ve been waiting for this happy time. 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, Oh, his charms are so perfect. Oh, he’s so beautiful, he’s so delightful, This Divine Child is so sweet. 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, A bit of hay is his little bed, A stable is his lodging, For a god such humbling. 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, Such a little child you are, O Jesus, o all powerful King, Rule completely over us. 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

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