“Les Petits Insectes” — Little Bugs Song in French for Kids

In “Les Petits Insectes” (Little Bugs), kids sing key French words like abeille, fourmi, papillon and araignée, going back and forth between English and French, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a early-learner (A1) song from Unit 4: Animals, 3:18 long, made for ages 2–8.

🇫🇷 French
Level: A1
Unit 4 · Les Animaux
⏱ 3:18
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“Les Petits Insectes” 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, little bug explorers?	Prêts, les petits explorateurs ?
Prêts, les petits explorateurs ?	Ready, little bug explorers?
Here we go!	C'est parti !
On y va !	Let's go!
Bee!	Abeille !
Abeille !	Bee!
A bee is in the garden.	Une abeille est dans le jardin.
Une abeille est dans le jardin.	A bee is in the garden.
Little bee, fly by!	Petite abeille, vole par ici !
Petite abeille, vole par ici !	Little bee, fly by!
Abeille!	Bee!
Bee!	Abeille!
Ant!	Fourmi !
Fourmi !	Ant!
The ant walks on the path.	La fourmi marche sur le chemin.
La fourmi marche sur le chemin.	The ant walks on the path.
Hello, little ant!	Bonjour, petite fourmi !
Bonjour, petite fourmi !	Hello, little ant!
Fourmi!	Ant!
Ant!	Fourmi!
Bee, abeille! Say it with me!
Abeille, bee! One, two, three!
Ant, fourmi! Now you know!
Fourmi, ant! Here we go!
Little bugs, big fun, say it again:	Petits insectes, grand plaisir, redis-le :
Bee—abeille! Ant—fourmi!
Butterfly!	Papillon !
Papillon !	Butterfly!
A butterfly is yellow.	Un papillon est jaune.
Un papillon est jaune.	A butterfly is yellow.
Look, it flies so high!	Regarde, il vole si haut !
Regarde, il vole si haut !	Look, it flies so high!
Papillon!	Butterfly!
Butterfly!	Papillon!
Spider!	Araignée !
Araignée !	Spider!
The spider is on the wall.	L’araignée est sur le mur.
L’araignée est sur le mur.	The spider is on the wall.
Hello, little spider!	Bonjour, petite araignée !
Bonjour, petite araignée !	Hello, little spider!
Araignée!	Spider!
Spider!	Araignée!
Butterfly, papillon! Say it with me!
Papillon, butterfly! One, two, three!
Spider, araignée! Now you know!
Araignée, spider! Here we go!
Little bugs, big fun, say it again:	Petits insectes, grand plaisir, redis-le :
Butterfly—papillon! Spider—araignée!
Ladybug!	Coccinelle !
Coccinelle !	Ladybug!
A ladybug is red.	Une coccinelle est rouge.
Une coccinelle est rouge.	A ladybug is red.
Count the spots: one, two!	Compte les points : un, deux !
Compte les points : un, deux !	Count the spots: one, two!
Coccinelle!	Ladybug!
Ladybug!	Coccinelle!
Fly!	Mouche !
Mouche !	Fly!
The fly is by the window.	La mouche est près de la fenêtre.
La mouche est près de la fenêtre.	The fly is by the window.
Fly away, little fly!	Envole-toi, petite mouche !
Envole-toi, petite mouche !	Fly away, little fly!
Mouche!	Fly!
Fly!	Mouche!
Who is red?	Qui est rouge ?
La coccinelle !	The ladybug!
Who walks along?	Qui marche par là ?
La fourmi !	The ant!
Who has wings?	Qui a des ailes ?
L’abeille et le papillon !	The bee and the butterfly!
Who spins a web?	Qui tisse une toile ?
L’araignée !	The spider!
And who goes buzz-buzz?	Et qui fait bzz-bzz ?
L’abeille !	The bee!
Who goes bzz-bzz?	Qui fait bzz-bzz ?
The bee!	L'abeille !
Bee, abeille! Say it with me!
Ant, fourmi! One, two, three!
Butterfly, papillon! Here we go!
Spider, araignée! Now you know!
Ladybug, coccinelle! Red and bright!
Fly, mouche! Wave goodbye!
Bee—abeille! Ant—fourmi!
Papillon—butterfly! Araignée—spider!
Coccinelle—ladybug! Mouche—fly!
Little bugs, little bugs, we know their names!	Petits insectes, petits insectes, on connaît leurs noms !
Petits insectes, on connaît leurs noms !	Little bugs, we know their names!
À bientôt, les amis !	See you soon, little friends!
See you soon, little friends!	À bientôt, les amis !

Key French words in this song

The 6 words and phrases this song is built around.

French	English
abeille	bee
fourmi	ant
papillon	butterfly
araignée	spider
coccinelle	ladybug
mouche	fly

How to use this song with your child

1
Listen for “abeille”
“abeille” (bee) is sung on 8 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
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 3:18, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. After the song, say an animal sound and let your child answer with the French name.