“Parfois triste” — Sometimes Sad Song in French for Kids

In “Parfois triste” (Sometimes Sad), kids sing key French words like triste, pleurer, parfois and câlin, going back and forth between English and French, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a early-learner (A1) song from Unit 8: Feelings, 2:07 long, made for ages 2–8.

🇫🇷 French
Level: A1
Unit 8 · Les Émotions
⏱ 2:07
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“Parfois triste” 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
Hello, hello! Bonjour, bonjour!
Ready to play? On y va!
Sometimes sad?	Parfois triste.
Parfois triste.	Sometimes sad?
I feel sad.	Je suis triste.
Je suis triste.	I feel sad.
Sad, sad?	Triste, triste!
Triste, triste!	Sad, sad?
Sometimes I feel sad.	Parfois, je suis triste.
Parfois, je suis triste.	Sometimes I feel sad.
To cry?	Pleurer.
Pleurer.	To cry?
I cry sometimes.	Je pleure parfois.
Je pleure parfois.	I cry sometimes.
Do you cry?	Tu pleures ?
Tu pleures?	Do you cry?
Sometimes, yes.	Oui, parfois!
Oui, parfois!	Sometimes, yes.
Sad?	Triste!
Triste!	Sad?
To cry?	Pleurer!
Pleurer!	To cry?
Sometimes?	Parfois!
Parfois!	Sometimes?
A hug?	Un câlin!
Un câlin!	A hug?
Triste, parfois, then a câlin!
Triste, parfois, then a câlin!
I need a hug.	J’ai besoin d’un câlin.
J’ai besoin d’un câlin.	I need a hug.
A big hug?	Un gros câlin!
Un gros câlin!	A big hug?
Here’s a hug.	Voilà un câlin!
Voilà un câlin!	Here’s a hug.
Are you sad?	Tu es triste?
Tu es triste?	Are you sad?
Sometimes.	Parfois.
Parfois.	Sometimes.
Triste means sad!
Sad means triste!
Pleurer means cry!
Cry means pleurer!
Parfois means sometimes!
Sometimes, parfois!
Câlin means hug!
Hug means câlin!
Sad?	Triste!
Triste!	Sad?
To cry?	Pleurer!
Pleurer!	To cry?
Sometimes?	Parfois!
Parfois!	Sometimes?
A hug?	Un câlin!
Un câlin!	A hug?
Triste, parfois, then a câlin!
Triste, parfois, we can smile again!
Sometimes sad?	Parfois triste.
Parfois triste.	Sometimes sad?
Un câlin! Un câlin!	A hug, a hug!

Key French words in this song

The 4 words and phrases this song is built around.

French	English
triste	sad
pleurer	to cry
parfois	sometimes
câlin	hug

How to use this song with your child

1
Listen for “parfois”
“parfois” (sometimes) is sung on 12 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 2:07, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Use the song's clapping or actions to shake off a grumpy mood.