French listening practice with side-by-side translation
Listen to J’ai vu maman embrasser le père Noël, the French version of "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." They are sung to the same tune, but the lyrics are somewhat different. Below the video, you’ll find the French lyrics and literal English translation.
Listening comprehension: See the links at the bottom for lessons related to the phrases in italics.
| J’ai vu maman embrasser le père Noël : Paroles | I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus: Lyrics |
| Moi, j’ai vu petite maman hier soir En train d’embrasser le Père-Noël. Ils étaient sous le gui Et me croyaient endormi Mais sans en avoir l’air, J’avais mes deux yeux entr’ouverts. |
Translation
I saw Mommy last night
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| Ah si papa était v’nu à passer Je m’demande ce qu‘il aurait pensé. Aurait-il trouvé naturel Parce qu’il descend du ciel Que maman embrasse le Père-Noël. |
Translation
Oh if Daddy had happened by
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| Moi, j’ai vu petite maman hier soir En train d’embrasser le Père-Noël. J’ai bien cherché pourquoi Et j’ai deviné, je crois C’est parce qu’il m’avait apporté De si beaux jouets. |
Translation
I saw Mommy last night
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| Aussi pour l’an prochain, j’ai bon espoir Qu’il viendra encore à mon appel, Et de nouveau, je f’rai semblant De dormir profondément Si maman embrasse le Père-Noël. |
Translation
Also for next year, I really hope
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| Video courtesy of duts76. | Translation by LKL |
Listening comprehension
Expressions
Grammar
- J’ai vu maman embrasser – verb of perception
- Moi, j’ai vu – stressed pronoun
- j’ai vu, J’ai bien cherché – passé composé
- Ils étaient, Et me croyaient endormi – imperfect
- me croyaient endormi – direct object
- me croyaient endormi – past participle
- sans en avoir l’air – adverbial pronoun en
- mes deux yeux, mon appel – possessive adjectives
- papa était v’nu (venu), il m’avait apporté – past perfect
- Je m’demande (me demande) – pronominal verb
- ce qu‘il aurait pensé – relative pronoun
- il aurait pensé – past conditional
- Aurait-il trouvé – past conditional, inverted
- il m’avait apporté – indirect object
- il viendra, je f’rai (ferai) – future
French Christmas Links
- Christmas vocabulary
- Expression: Joyeux Noël !
- French Christmas carols
- Listening: Traditions de Noël françaises
- Quiz: Christmas terms
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