“Als Ik Groot Ben” — When I Grow Up Song in Dutch for Kids
In “Als Ik Groot Ben” (When I Grow Up), kids sing key Dutch words like de dokter, de juf / de meester, de kok and de brandweerman, going back and forth between English and Dutch, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a next-step (A2) song from Unit 18: Jobs, 2:50 long, made for ages 2–8.
- 🇳🇱 Dutch
- Level: A2
- Unit 18 · De Beroepen
- ⏱ 2:50
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“Als Ik Groot Ben” lyrics with English translation
Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. Dutch is shown in teal.
| Sung | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Doctor! | De dokter! |
| De dokter! | Doctor! |
| I help when you’re ill. | Ik help als je ziek bent. |
| Ik help je, rustig en stil. | I help you, calm and quiet. |
| I want to be a doctor! | Ik wil dokter worden! |
| Ik wil dokter worden! | I want to be a doctor! |
| Teacher! | De juf of de meester! |
| De juf or de meester! | The teacher! |
| I teach and read each day. | Ik geef les en lees elke dag. |
| Ik leer je lezen, stap voor stap. | I teach you to read, step by step. |
| I want to be a teacher! | Ik wil juf of meester worden! |
| Ik wil juf of meester worden! | I want to be a teacher! |
| When I grow up, what will I be? | Als ik groot ben, wat word ik dan? |
| Als ik groot ben, wat word ik dan? | When I grow up, what will I be? |
| I want to be—say it with me! | Ik wil … worden! Zing maar mee! |
| Ik wil … worden! Zing maar mee! | I want to be—say it with me! |
| Doctor! | De dokter! |
| De dokter! | Doctor! |
| Teacher! | De juf of de meester! |
| De juf, de meester! | Teacher! |
| Ik wil … worden! I want to be! | |
| Chef! | De kok! |
| De kok! | Chef! |
| I make soup and bread. | Ik kook soep en brood. |
| Ik kook soep en brood. | I make soup and bread. |
| I want to be a chef! | Ik wil kok worden! |
| Ik wil kok worden! | I want to be a chef! |
| Brandweerman! | Firefighter! |
| Firefighter! | Brandweerman! |
| I help when there’s a fire. | Ik help bij brand! |
| Ik help bij brand! | I help when there’s a fire. |
| I want to be a firefighter! | Ik wil brandweerman worden! |
| Farmer! | De boer! |
| De boer! | Farmer! |
| The farmer grows our food. | De boer verbouwt ons eten. |
| De boer verbouwt ons eten. | The farmer grows our food. |
| I want to be a farmer! | Ik wil boer worden! |
| Ik wil boer worden! | I want to be a farmer! |
| When I grow up, what will I be? | Als ik groot ben, wat word ik dan? |
| Als ik groot ben, wat word ik dan? | When I grow up, what will I be? |
| I want to be—say it with me! | Ik wil … worden! Zing maar mee! |
| Ik wil … worden! Zing maar mee! | I want to be—say it with me! |
| Doctor! | De dokter! |
| De dokter! | Doctor! |
| Teacher! | De juf of de meester! |
| De juf, de meester! | Teacher! |
| Ik wil … worden! I want to be! | |
| What do you want to be? | Wat wil jij later worden? |
| Wat wil jij later worden? | What do you want to be? |
| The choice is yours, there’s time to see. | Jij mag kiezen, er is nog tijd. |
| Jij mag kiezen, stap voor stap. | You get to choose, step by step. |
| Say it once, then say it twice! | Zeg het één keer, en dan twee keer! |
| Ik wil kok worden! Dat klinkt fijn! | I want to be a chef! That sounds nice! |
| When I grow up, what will I be? | Als ik groot ben, wat word ik dan? |
| Als ik groot ben, wat word ik dan? | When I grow up, what will I be? |
| I want to be—say it with me! | Ik wil … worden! Zing maar mee! |
| Ik wil … worden! Zing maar mee! | I want to be—say it with me! |
| Doctor! Chef! Farmer! | De dokter! De kok! De boer! |
| De dokter! De kok! De boer! | Doctor! Chef! Farmer! |
| Teacher! Firefighter! | De juf, de meester! Brandweerman! |
| De juf, de meester! Brandweerman! | Teacher! Firefighter! |
| Ik wil … worden! I want to be! | |
| Ik wil … worden! I want to be! | |
Key Dutch words in this song
The 6 words and phrases this song is built around.
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| de dokter | doctor |
| de juf / de meester | teacher |
| de kok | chef |
| de brandweerman | firefighter |
| de boer | farmer |
| ik wil … worden | I want to be |
How to use this song with your child
- 1
Count the “de dokter”s
“de dokter” means “doctor” and comes up on 4 lines. Keep count on your fingers together; older kids can try to predict when it's coming next.
- 2
Split the parts
Once the song is familiar, you sing the English lines and your child sings the Dutch ones, then swap. It turns listening into speaking.
- 3
Make it a routine
At 2:50, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Ask your child which job they'd pick and help them say it in Dutch.
“When I Grow Up” in other languages
The same song, written for each language we teach.
134 Dutch songs, 32 topics, one joyful habit
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