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“Sterne zählen” — Counting Stars Song in German for Kids

In “Sterne zählen” (Counting Stars), kids sing key German words like ein kleiner Stern, zwei, drei and fünf, going back and forth between English and German, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a beginner song from Unit 27: Bedtime Lullabies, 2:20 long, made for ages 2–8.

  • 🇩🇪 German
  • Level: Beginner
  • Unit 27 · Schlaflieder
  • ⏱ 2:20
  • 🔒 Premium

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“Sterne zählen” lyrics with English translation

Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. German is shown in teal.

Song lyrics with translation. German lines are shown in teal.
SungMeaning
One little star — ein kleiner Stern.
One — eins.
Count with me — zähl mit mir.
Zähl mit mir — count with me.
One by one — einer nach dem anderen.
Einer nach dem anderen — one by one.
In the sky — am Himmel.
Am Himmel — in the sky.
One star, two stars — ein Stern, zwei Sterne.
Two — zwei.
The stars — die Sterne.
Die Sterne — the stars.
Sparkle — funkeln.
Funkeln — sparkle.
Soft and slow — ganz leis und sacht.
Ganz leis und sacht — soft and slow.
One little star — ein kleiner Stern.
Two little stars — zwei kleine Sterne.
Three little stars — drei kleine Sterne.
Count with me — zähl mit mir.
Zähl mit mir — count with me.
The stars — die Sterne.
Die Sterne — the stars.
Four — vier.
Five — fünf.
Five little stars — fünf kleine Sterne.
Fünf kleine Sterne — five little stars.
Six — sechs.
Seven — sieben.
In the sky — am Himmel.
Am Himmel — in the sky.
Eight — acht.
Nine — neun.
Ten — zehn.
Ten little stars — zehn kleine Sterne.
Zehn kleine Sterne — ten little stars.
They sparkle — sie funkeln.
Sie funkeln — they sparkle.
Sleep now, dear — schlaf jetzt, mein Schatz.
Schlaf jetzt, mein Schatz — sleep now, dear.
One little star — ein kleiner Stern.
Two little stars — zwei kleine Sterne.
Three little stars — drei kleine Sterne.
Count with me — zähl mit mir.
Zähl mit mir — count with me.
The stars — die Sterne.
Die Sterne — the stars.
Four, five, six — vier, fünf, sechs.
Seven, eight, nine — sieben, acht, neun.
Ten — zehn.
Ten little stars — zehn kleine Sterne.
All asleep — alle schlafen.
Schlaf, mein Kind — sleep, my child.
One by one — einer nach dem anderen.
Einer nach dem anderen — one by one.
Am Himmel — in the sky.
Die Sterne — the stars.
Funkeln — softly sparkle.
Mmm… mmm…
Mmm… mmm…

Key German words in this song

The 10 words and phrases this song is built around.

GermanEnglish
ein kleiner Sternone little star
zweitwo
dreithree
fünffive
zehnten
die Sternethe stars
funkelnsparkle
am Himmelin the sky
zähl mit mircount with me
einer nach dem anderenone by one

How to use this song with your child

  1. 1

    Count the “die Sterne”s

    “die Sterne” means “the stars” and comes up on 7 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 German. On a second listen, pause after an English line and let your child try the German answer before the song sings it.

  3. 3

    Make it a routine

    At 2:20, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Rock a teddy to sleep in time with the music.

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