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“Ma Petite Barque” — Little Boat Song in French for Kids

In “Ma Petite Barque” (The Little Boat), kids sing key French words like la petite barque, la mer, les vagues and berce-toi, going back and forth between English and French, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a beginner song from Unit 27: Bedtime Lullabies, 2:15 long, made for ages 2–8.

  • 🇫🇷 French
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unit 27 · Berceuses
  • ⏱ 2:15
  • 🔒 Premium

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“Ma Petite Barque” 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
The little boatLa petite barque
La petite barqueThe little boat
The little boatLa petite barque
La petite barqueThe little boat
The seaLa mer
La merThe sea
The seaLa mer
La merThe sea
The wavesLes vagues
Les vaguesThe waves
Les vaguesThe waves
The wavesLes vagues
Rock gentlyBerce-toi
Berce-toiRock gently
Rock gentlyBerce-toi
Berce-toiRock gently
Slowly, doucement
Slowly, doucement
Back and forthD’un côté à l’autre
D’un côté à l’autreBack and forth
Back and forthD’un côté à l’autre
D’un côté à l’autreBack and forth
The little boatLa petite barque
La petite barqueThe little boat
On the seaSur la mer
Sur la merOn the sea
The windLe vent
Le ventThe wind
The windLe vent
Le ventThe wind
The sandLe sable
Le sableThe sand
The sandLe sable
Le sableThe sand
The lighthouseLe phare
Le phareThe lighthouse
Far awayAu loin
Au loinFar away
Softly blinkingQui clignote doucement
Il clignote doucementSoftly blinking
The waves sayLes vagues disent
Les vagues disentThe waves say
Sleep, dors
Dors, sleep
Slowly, doucement
Slowly, doucement
Back and forthD’un côté à l’autre
D’un côté à l’autreBack and forth
Back and forthD’un côté à l’autre
D’un côté à l’autreBack and forth
The little boatLa petite barque
La petite barqueThe little boat
On the seaSur la mer
Sur la merOn the sea
Slowly, doucement
Slowly, doucement
Back and forthD’un côté à l’autre
D’un côté à l’autreBack and forth
Back and forthD’un côté à l’autre
D’un côté à l’autreBack and forth
The little boatLa petite barque
La petite barqueThe little boat
Sleep, dors
Dors, sleep
Hmm… hmm…
Hmm… hmm…
Dors… doucement…Sleep… softly…
Sleep… softly…Dors… doucement…
Hmm… hmm…

Key French words in this song

The 10 words and phrases this song is built around.

FrenchEnglish
la petite barquethe little boat
la merthe sea
les vaguesthe waves
berce-toirock gently
le ventthe wind
le sablethe sand
le pharethe lighthouse
doucementslowly
d'un côté à l'autreback and forth
dorssleep

How to use this song with your child

  1. 1

    Count the “doucement”s

    “doucement” means “slowly” and comes up on 8 lines. Keep count on your fingers together; older kids can try to predict when it's coming next.

  2. 2

    Pause between the call and the answer

    The song moves back and forth between English and French. On a second listen, pause after an English line and let your child try the French answer before the song sings it.

  3. 3

    Make it a routine

    At 2:15, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Play it as the last song of the day, with the lights low.

More lullaby songs in French

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“The Little Boat” in other languages

The same song, written for each language we teach.

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