“Rapide et lent” — Fast and Slow Song in French for Kids

In “Rapide et lent” (Fast and Slow), kids sing key French words like rapide, lent, marcher and encore, going back and forth between English and French, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a next-step (A2) song from Unit 13: Actions & Movement, 2:15 long, made for ages 2–8.

🇫🇷 French
Level: A2
Unit 13 · On Bouge !
⏱ 2:15
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“Rapide et lent” 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.
Sung	Meaning
Ready? Prêts ?
Let’s play! On y va !
Fast!	Rapide !
Rapide !	Fast!
The little rabbit runs fast.	Le petit lapin court vite.
Le petit lapin court vite !	The little rabbit runs fast!
Slow!	Lent !
Lent !	Slow!
The turtle walks slow.	La tortue marche lentement.
La tortue marche lentement.	The turtle walks slow.
Fast, fast!	Rapide, rapide !
Rapide, rapide !	Fast, fast!
Slow, slow!	Lentement, lentement !
Lentement, lentement !	Slow, slow!
Fast or slow?	Vite ou lentement ?
Vite ou lentement ?	Fast or slow?
We can say it, yes, we can!	On peut le dire, oui, on peut !
To walk!	Marcher !
Marcher !	To walk!
Let’s walk to the door.	Marchons jusqu’à la porte !
Marchons jusqu’à la porte !	Let’s walk to the door.
Again!	Encore !
Encore !	Again!
Let’s do it again!	On recommence encore !
On recommence encore !	Let’s do it again!
Walk fast!	Marche vite !
Marche vite !	Walk fast!
Walk slow!	Marche lentement !
Marche lentement !	Walk slow!
Say it again!	Dis-le encore !
Dis-le encore !	Say it again!
Fast!	Rapide !
Rapide !	Fast!
Slow!	Lent !
Lent !	Slow!
Fast, fast!	Rapide, rapide !
Rapide, rapide !	Fast, fast!
Slow, slow!	Lentement, lentement !
Lentement, lentement !	Slow, slow!
Fast or slow?	Vite ou lentement ?
Vite ou lentement ?	Fast or slow?
We can say it, yes, we can!	On peut le dire, oui, on peut !
I walk slowly.	Je marche lentement.
Je marche lentement.	I walk slowly.
Now walk quickly!	Maintenant, marche vite !
Maintenant, marche vite !	Now walk quickly!
One more time!	Encore une fois !
Encore une fois !	One more time!
Fast, slow, we know the way!	Rapide, lent, on connaît le chemin !
Fast, fast!	Rapide, rapide !
Rapide, rapide !	Fast, fast!
Slow, slow!	Lentement, lentement !
Lentement, lentement !	Slow, slow!
To walk!	Marcher !
Marcher !	To walk!
Again!	Encore !
Encore !	Again!
Fast or slow, let’s play again!	Rapide ou lent, on rejoue !
À bientôt !	See you soon!
See you soon!	À bientôt !
Encore !	Again!

Key French words in this song

The 4 words and phrases this song is built around.

French	English
rapide	fast
lent	slow
marcher	to walk
encore	again

How to use this song with your child

1
Make “encore” the word of the day
This song repeats “encore” (again) on 6 lines. Use it once or twice during the day outside the song, and let your child correct you if you get it wrong.
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
Make it a routine
At 2:15, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Do every move the song calls out, and let your child be the leader the second time.