“Compte à Rebours” — Countdown to Blast-Off Song in French for Kids

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“Compte à Rebours” lyrics with English translation

Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. French is shown in teal.

Key French words in this song

The 11 words and phrases this song is built around.

How to use this song with your child

1. 1

   Listen for “prêts”

   “prêts” (ready?) is sung on 5 lines of this song. Ask your child to clap or raise a hand every time they hear it; by the end they will be saying it with the song.

2. 2

   Split the parts

   Once the song is familiar, you sing the English lines and your child sings the French ones, then swap. It turns listening into speaking.

3. 3

   Make it a routine

   At 2:33, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Pause before a number and let your child sing the next one.

More bigger numbers songs in French

• 🔢

  De Onze à Vingt

  Eleven to Twenty · 2:40 · Premium

  onze, douze, treize, quatorze

• 💯

  De Dix en Dix

  Counting by Tens · 2:14 · Premium

  dix, vingt, trente, quarante

• 🦶

  Vingt Petits Doigts

  Twenty Fingers and Toes · 1:44 · Premium

  les doigts, les doigts de pied, dix et dix, ça fait vingt

All French bigger numbers songs, words and tips →

“Countdown to Blast-Off” in other languages

The same song, written for each language we teach.

• 🇪🇸Spanish:¡Despegamos!
• 🇩🇪German:Die Rakete startet!
• 🇮🇹Italian:Conto alla Rovescia
• 🇵🇹Portuguese:Contagem Decrescente
• 🇳🇱Dutch:Aftellen!