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“On Traverse la Rue” — Stop, Look and Cross Song in French for Kids

In “On Traverse la Rue” (Stop, Look and Cross), kids sing key French words like arrête-toi, donne-moi la main, regarde à gauche and regarde à droite, going back and forth between English and French, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a early-learner (A1) song from Unit 32: In the Town, 2:34 long, made for ages 2–8.

  • 🇫🇷 French
  • Level: A1
  • Unit 32 · En Ville
  • ⏱ 2:34
  • 🔒 Premium

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“On Traverse la Rue” lyrics with English translation

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

Song lyrics with translation. French lines are shown in teal.
SungMeaning
Ready, friends? On y va!
Let’s learn the safe way!Apprenons à traverser prudemment !
At the curb — stop!Au bord du trottoir — stop !
Arrête-toi! Stop!
Hold my hand!Donne-moi la main!
Donne-moi la main!Hold my hand!
Look left!Regarde à gauche!
Regarde à gauche!Look left!
Look right!Regarde à droite!
Regarde à droite!Look right!
Look left again!Regarde encore à gauche!
Regarde encore à gauche!Look left again!
Listen for cars!Écoute les voitures!
Écoute les voitures!Listen for cars!
At the curb, we take our time,Au bord du trottoir, on prend notre temps,
On reste ensemble, tout va bien!We stay together, all is well!
Red means wait!Rouge, on attend !
Rouge, on attend!Red, we wait!
Green means walk!Vert, on traverse !
Vert, on traverse!Green, we cross!
At the light, we watch and see,Au feu, on regarde bien,
Le feu nous dit quand partir!The light tells us when to go!
Zebra crossing, nice and slow,Le passage piéton, tout doucement,
Le passage piéton — let’s go!
Now we can cross!Maintenant, on traverse!
Maintenant, on traverse!Now we can cross!
Now we can cross!Maintenant, on traverse!
Maintenant, on traverse!Now we can cross!
Traffic light!Le feu !
Le feu!The traffic light!
The street!La rue!
La rue!The street!
Where do we cross?Où est-ce qu’on traverse ?
Au passage piéton!At the zebra crossing!
Stop at the curb!Arrête-toi au bord!
Arrête-toi au bord!Stop at the curb!
Hold my hand!Donne-moi la main!
Donne-moi la main!Hold my hand!
Look left, look right, look left once more,Regarde à gauche, à droite, encore à gauche,
Regarde à gauche, à droite, encore à gauche!Look left, look right, look left once more,
Listen carefully, then we know,Écoute bien, et alors on sait,
Écoute bien, et puis on y va!Listen well, and then we go!
Red means wait!Rouge, on attend !
Rouge, on attend!Red, we wait!
Green means walk!Vert, on traverse !
Vert, on traverse!Green, we cross!
At the light, we watch and see,Au feu, on regarde bien,
Le feu nous dit quand partir!The light tells us when to go!
Zebra crossing, nice and slow,Le passage piéton, tout doucement,
Le passage piéton — let’s go!
Now we can cross!Maintenant, on traverse!
Maintenant, on traverse!Now we can cross!
Now we can cross!Maintenant, on traverse!
Maintenant, on traverse!Now we can cross!
I say “stop!”Je dis « stop ! »
Tu dis “arrête-toi!”You say “stop!”
I say “look left!”Je dis « regarde à gauche ! »
Tu dis “regarde à gauche!”You say “look left!”
I say “listen!”Je dis « écoute ! »
Tu dis “écoute!”You say “listen!”
Together, safe — c’est parti!
Wait for green, then walk with me!Attends le vert, puis viens avec moi !
Red means wait!Rouge, on attend !
Rouge, on attend!Red, we wait!
Green means walk!Vert, on traverse !
Vert, on traverse!Green, we cross!
At the light, we watch and see,Au feu, on regarde bien,
Le feu nous dit quand partir!The light tells us when to go!
Zebra crossing, nice and slow,Le passage piéton, tout doucement,
Le passage piéton — let’s go!
Now we can cross!Maintenant, on traverse!
Maintenant, on traverse!Now we can cross!
Now we can cross!Maintenant, on traverse!
Maintenant, on traverse!Now we can cross!
Stop, look, listen — bien joué!
Safe together, every day!Prudents ensemble, tous les jours !

Key French words in this song

The 11 words and phrases this song is built around.

FrenchEnglish
arrête-toistop
donne-moi la mainhold my hand
regarde à gauchelook left
regarde à droitelook right
écoutelisten
le feutraffic light
rouge on attendred means wait
vert on traversegreen means walk
le passage piétonzebra crossing
la ruethe street
maintenant on traversenow we cross

How to use this song with your child

  1. 1

    Listen for “maintenant on traverse”

    “maintenant on traverse” (now we cross) is sung on 6 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 2:34, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Ring the bell and call out next stop like the bus driver.

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