“Les Instruments” — Instruments Song in French for Kids
In “Les Instruments” (The Instruments), kids sing key French words like le tambour, la guitare, le piano and le violon, going back and forth between English and French, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a early-learner (A1) song from Unit 30: Music & Instruments, 3:11 long, made for ages 2–8.
- 🇫🇷 French
- Level: A1
- Unit 30 · La Musique
- ⏱ 3:11
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“Les Instruments” lyrics with English translation
Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. French is shown in teal.
| Sung | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Listen! Écoute ! | |
| Écoute ! Listen! | |
| What is it? Qu’est-ce que c’est ? | |
| Qu’est-ce que c’est ? What is it? | |
| The drum! Le tambour ! | |
| Boom, boom! Le tambour ! | |
| What is it? Qu’est-ce que c’est ? | |
| It’s the drum! C’est le tambour ! | |
| I play the drum! | Je joue du tambour ! |
| Je joue du tambour ! | I play the drum! |
| The guitar! La guitare ! | |
| Strum, strum! La guitare ! | |
| I play the guitar! | Je joue de la guitare ! |
| Je joue de la guitare ! | I play the guitar! |
| The piano! Le piano ! | |
| Plink, plonk! Le piano ! | |
| I play the piano! | Je joue du piano ! |
| Je joue du piano ! | I play the piano! |
| The violin! Le violon ! | |
| Sweet strings! Le violon ! | |
| I play the violin! | Je joue du violon ! |
| Je joue du violon ! | I play the violin! |
| Écoute ! Listen! | |
| What is it? Qu’est-ce que c’est ? | |
| Say it in English! | Dis-le en anglais ! |
| Say it en français ! | |
| Play, play, play! | Joue, joue, joue ! |
| Jouons, jouons ! | Let’s play, let’s play! |
| Name it, play it, sing it again! | Nomme-le, joue-le, chante-le encore ! |
| La trompette ! What is it? | |
| The trumpet! Toot, toot! | La trompette ! Tut, tut ! |
| Je joue de la trompette ! | I play the trumpet! |
| The flute! La flûte ! | |
| Whee, whee! La flûte ! | |
| I play the flute! | Je joue de la flûte ! |
| Je joue de la flûte ! | I play the flute! |
| The xylophone! Le xylophone ! | |
| Ting, ting! Le xylophone ! | |
| What is it? Qu’est-ce que c’est ? | |
| It’s the xylophone! C’est le xylophone ! | |
| The tambourine! Le tambourin ! | |
| Shake, shake! Le tambourin ! | |
| I play the tambourine! | Je joue du tambourin ! |
| Je joue du tambourin ! | I play the tambourine! |
| Écoute ! Listen! | |
| What is it? Qu’est-ce que c’est ? | |
| Say it in English! | Dis-le en anglais ! |
| Say it en français ! | |
| Play, play, play! | Joue, joue, joue ! |
| Jouons, jouons ! | Let’s play, let’s play! |
| Name it, play it, sing it again! | Nomme-le, joue-le, chante-le encore ! |
| Qui joue du tambour ? | Who plays the drum? |
| I play the drum! Boom, boom! | Je joue du tambour ! Boum, boum ! |
| Qui joue de la guitare ? | Who plays the guitar? |
| I do! Strum, strum! | Moi ! Gratte, gratte ! |
| Et le piano, qui joue ? | And the piano, who plays it? |
| Me! Plink, plonk! Et toi ? | |
| I play, je joue, you play, tu joues! | |
| Together, ensemble, one, two, three! | |
| Écoute ! Listen! | |
| What is it? Qu’est-ce que c’est ? | |
| Say it in English! | Dis-le en anglais ! |
| Say it en français ! | |
| Play, play, play! | Joue, joue, joue ! |
| Jouons, jouons ! | Let’s play, let’s play! |
| Drum, tambour! Guitar, guitare! | |
| Piano, violon, trompette, flûte! | Piano, violin, trumpet, flute! |
| Xylophone, tambourin — we know them all! | |
| Je joue, tu joues, everybody play! | |
| Listen! Écoute ! | |
| We know what it is! | On sait ce que c’est ! |
| Bravo! Encore! Bravo! Encore! | Bravo! More! Bravo! More! |
Key French words in this song
The 11 words and phrases this song is built around.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le tambour | drum |
| la guitare | guitar |
| le piano | piano |
| le violon | violin |
| la trompette | trumpet |
| la flûte | flute |
| le xylophone | xylophone |
| le tambourin | tambourine |
| écoute ! | listen! |
| qu'est-ce que c'est ? | what is it? |
| je joue du tambour | I play the drum |
How to use this song with your child
- 1
Make “qu'est-ce que c'est” the word of the day
This song repeats “qu'est-ce que c'est” (what is it?) on 7 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 3:11, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Bang, tap and shake along with things from the kitchen.
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“The Instruments” in other languages
The same song, written for each language we teach.
134 French songs, 32 topics, one joyful habit
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