“En Haut, En Bas” — Up and Down Song in French for Kids
In “En Haut, En Bas” (Up and Down), kids sing key French words like en haut, en bas, dedans and dehors, going back and forth between English and French, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a early-learner (A1) song from Unit 23: Opposites, 2:19 long, made for ages 2–8.
- 🇫🇷 French
- Level: A1
- Unit 23 · Les Contraires
- ⏱ 2:19
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“En Haut, En Bas” lyrics with English translation
Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. French is shown in teal.
| Sung | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ready to move? | Prêts à bouger ? |
| Oui, oui, oui! | Yes, yes, yes! |
| Up and down! | En haut, en bas! |
| En haut, en bas! | Up and down! |
| Reach up high! | Tends les bras très haut ! |
| En haut, en haut! | Up, up! |
| Crouch down low! | Accroupis-toi tout en bas ! |
| En bas, en bas! | Down, down! |
| Jump in! | Saute dedans ! |
| Dedans, dedans! | In, in! |
| Jump out! | Saute dehors ! |
| Dehors, dehors! | Out, out! |
| Up, up, reach for the sky! | En haut, en haut, touche le ciel ! |
| En haut, en haut, les bras en l’air! | Up, up, arms in the air! |
| Down, down, touch your toes! | En bas, en bas, touche tes pieds! |
| En bas, en bas, touche tes pieds! | Down, down, touch your toes! |
| Up! | En haut! |
| En haut! | Up! |
| Down! | En bas! |
| En bas! | Down! |
| In! | Dedans! |
| Dedans! | In! |
| Out! | Dehors! |
| Dehors! | Out! |
| Near! | Près! |
| Près! | Near! |
| Far! | Loin! |
| Loin! | Far! |
| Bouge, bouge, encore une fois! | Move, move, one more time! |
| Up and down—we move, hooray! | En haut, en bas — on bouge, hourra ! |
| En haut, en bas, viens jouer! | Up, down, come and play! |
| Run far away! | Cours très loin ! |
| Cours loin, loin! | Run far, far! |
| Come back near! | Reviens tout près ! |
| Reviens près de moi! | Come back close to me! |
| Go fast! | Va vite ! |
| Va vite, vite! | Go fast, fast! |
| Now go slowly! | Maintenant, va lentement ! |
| Va lentement! | Go slowly! |
| Freeze on stop! | On s’arrête au signal ! |
| Arrête! Ne bouge plus! | Stop! Don’t move! |
| Dash on go! | On fonce au départ ! |
| C’est parti! Allez, go! | |
| Fast, fast, tap your knees! | Vite, vite, tape les genoux! |
| Vite, vite, tape les genoux! | Fast, fast, tap your knees! |
| Slowly, slowly, tiptoe back! | Lentement, lentement, reviens sur la pointe des pieds ! |
| Lentement, lentement, tout doucement! | Slowly, slowly, very gently! |
| Up! | En haut! |
| En haut! | Up! |
| Down! | En bas! |
| En bas! | Down! |
| In! | Dedans! |
| Dedans! | In! |
| Out! | Dehors! |
| Dehors! | Out! |
| Near! | Près! |
| Près! | Near! |
| Far! | Loin! |
| Loin! | Far! |
| Bouge, bouge, encore une fois! | Move, move, one more time! |
| Up and down—we move, hooray! | En haut, en bas — on bouge, hourra ! |
| En haut, en bas, viens jouer! | Up, down, come and play! |
| Stop! | Arrête! |
| Arrête! | Stop! |
| Hold still—one, two! | Ne bouge pas — un, deux ! |
| Un, deux, on ne bouge plus! | One, two, we don’t move! |
| Go! | C’est parti! |
| C’est parti! | Let's go! |
| Fast, then slow! | Vite, puis lentement! |
| Vite, puis lentement! | Fast, then slow! |
| Near, then far! | Près, puis loin! |
| Près, puis loin! | Near, then far! |
| Prêts? On y va! | Ready? Let’s go! |
| Up! | En haut! |
| En haut! | Up! |
| Down! | En bas! |
| En bas! | Down! |
| In! | Dedans! |
| Dedans! | In! |
| Out! | Dehors! |
| Dehors! | Out! |
| Near! | Près! |
| Près! | Near! |
| Far! | Loin! |
| Loin! | Far! |
| Fast! | Vite! |
| Vite! | Fast! |
| Slowly! | Lentement! |
| Lentement! | Slowly! |
| Stop! | Arrête! |
| Arrête! | Stop! |
| Go! | C’est parti! |
| C’est parti! | Let's go! |
| Bouge, bouge, encore une fois! | Move, move, one more time! |
| Up and down—we move, hooray! | En haut, en bas — on bouge, hourra ! |
| En haut, en bas, viens jouer! | Up, down, come and play! |
| One more time! | Encore une fois! |
| Encore une fois! | One more time! |
| En haut! En bas! C’est parti! | Up! Down! Here we go! |
Key French words in this song
The 10 words and phrases this song is built around.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| en haut | up |
| en bas | down |
| dedans | in |
| dehors | out |
| près | near |
| loin | far |
| vite | fast |
| lentement | slowly |
| arrête | stop |
| c'est parti | go |
How to use this song with your child
- 1
Count the “en haut”s
“en haut” means “up” and comes up on 10 lines. Keep count on your fingers together; older kids can try to predict when it's coming next.
- 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 2:19, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Play the opposites game: you say one word, your child says its opposite.
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