“Die Instrumente” — Instruments Song in German for Kids
In “Die Instrumente” (The Instruments), kids sing key German words like die Trommel, die Gitarre, das Klavier and die Geige, going back and forth between English and German, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a early-learner (A1) song from Unit 30: Music & Instruments, 3:02 long, made for ages 2–8.
- 🇩🇪 German
- Level: A1
- Unit 30 · Wir machen Musik
- ⏱ 3:02
- 🔒 Premium
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“Die Instrumente” lyrics with English translation
Every line as it's sung, with its meaning beside it. German is shown in teal.
| Sung | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hör mal! Listen! | |
| Was ist das? What is it? | |
| Listen! What is it? | Hör mal! Was ist das? |
| Hör mal! Was ist das? | Listen! What is it? |
| Drum! | Die Trommel! |
| Die Trommel! | Drum! |
| Boom, boom! I play the drum! | Bum, bum! Ich spiele Trommel! |
| Ich spiele die Trommel—bum, bum, bum! | I play the drum — boom, boom, boom! |
| Guitar! | Die Gitarre! |
| Die Gitarre! | Guitar! |
| Strum, strum! I play guitar! | Schrumm, schrumm! Ich spiele Gitarre! |
| Ich spiele Gitarre—hör, wie schön das war! | I play the guitar — listen, how lovely that was! |
| Piano! | Das Klavier! |
| Das Klavier! | Piano! |
| Plink, plonk! Play with me! | Pling, plong! Spiel mit mir! |
| Ich spiele Klavier—eins, zwei, drei! | I play the piano — one, two, three! |
| Violin! | Die Geige! |
| Die Geige! | Violin! |
| Strings go sing, so high, so sweet! | Die Saiten singen, so hoch, so süß! |
| Die Geige spielt—wie klingt das fein! | The violin plays — how fine it sounds! |
| Listen! What is it? | Hör mal! Was ist das? |
| Hör mal! Was ist das? | Listen! What is it? |
| Drum, guitar, piano—play! | Trommel, Gitarre, Klavier—hurra! |
| Trommel, Gitarre, Klavier—hurra! | Drum, guitar, piano—play! |
| I play, you play, we play together! | Ich spiele, du spielst—alle zusammen! |
| Ich spiele, du spielst—alle zusammen! | I play, you play, we play together! |
| Boom, strum, plink—hooray! | Bum, strumm, pling—hurra! |
| Bum, strumm, pling—hurra! | Boom, strum, plink—hooray! |
| Trumpet! | Die Trompete! |
| Die Trompete! | Trumpet! |
| Toot, toot! Hear it sing! | Töröö! Hör, wie sie singt! |
| Die Trompete klingt—ding, ding, ding! | The trumpet sounds — ding, ding, ding! |
| Flute! | Die Flöte! |
| Die Flöte! | Flute! |
| Whoo, whoo! Soft and clear! | Huu, huu! Leise und klar! |
| Die Flöte klingt—komm, hör mal her! | The flute sounds — come, listen here! |
| Xylophone! | Das Xylophon! |
| Das Xylophon! | Xylophone! |
| Tap, tap! Bright as can be! | Tipp, tipp! So hell es geht! |
| Das Xylophon spielt—eins, zwei, drei! | The xylophone plays — one, two, three! |
| Tambourine! | Das Tamburin! |
| Das Tamburin! | Tambourine! |
| Shake, shake! Join the tune! | Schüttel, schüttel! Spiel mit! |
| Das Tamburin klingt—klipp-klapp, bum! | The tambourine sounds — clip-clap, boom! |
| Listen! What is it? | Hör mal! Was ist das? |
| Hör mal! Was ist das? | Listen! What is it? |
| Trumpet, flute, xylophone! | Trompete, Flöte, Xylophon! |
| Trompete, Flöte, Xylophon! | Trumpet, flute, xylophone! |
| Tambourine—now play along! | Tamburin—wir machen mit! |
| Tamburin—wir machen mit! | Tambourine—now play along! |
| Toot, whoo, tap, shake—hooray! | Tut, huu, tipp, schüttel — hurra! |
| Tut, flöt, kling, klatsch—hurra! | Toot, whoo, ding, clap — hooray! |
| What do you hear? | Was hörst du? |
| Was hörst du? | What do you hear? |
| I hear the drum! | Ich höre die Trommel! |
| Ich höre die Trommel! | I hear the drum! |
| What do you play? | Was spielst du? |
| Was spielst du? | What do you play? |
| I play the piano! | Ich spiele Klavier! |
| Ich spiele Klavier! | I play the piano! |
| Your turn—say it loud! | Du bist dran — sag es laut! |
| Jetzt bist du dran! | Now it’s your turn! |
| Listen! What is it? | Hör mal! Was ist das? |
| Hör mal! Was ist das? | Listen! What is it? |
| Drum, guitar, piano—play! | Trommel, Gitarre, Klavier—hurra! |
| Trommel, Gitarre, Klavier—hurra! | Drum, guitar, piano—play! |
| Violin, trumpet, flute, xylophone! | Geige, Trompete, Flöte, Xylophon! |
| Geige, Trompete, Flöte, Xylophon! | Violin, trumpet, flute, xylophone! |
| Tambourine—everybody sing! | Tamburin—alle stimmen ein! |
| Tamburin—alle stimmen ein! | Tambourine—everybody sing! |
| I play, you play, we play together! | Ich spiele, du spielst—alle zusammen! |
| Ich spiele, du spielst—alle zusammen! | I play, you play, we play together! |
| Boom, strum, plink, toot—hooray! | Bum, strumm, pling, tut—hurra! |
| Bum, strumm, pling, tut—hurra! | Boom, strum, plink, toot—hooray! |
| Hör mal! | Listen! |
| Listen! | Hör mal! |
| Was ist das? | What is it? |
| What is it? | Was ist das? |
| Musik macht Spaß—hooray! | |
Key German words in this song
The 11 words and phrases this song is built around.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| die Trommel | drum |
| die Gitarre | guitar |
| das Klavier | piano |
| die Geige | violin |
| die Trompete | trumpet |
| die Flöte | flute |
| das Xylophon | xylophone |
| das Tamburin | tambourine |
| hör mal! | listen! |
| was ist das? | what is it? |
| ich spiele Trommel | I play the drum |
How to use this song with your child
- 1
Count the “hör mal”s
“hör mal” means “listen!” and comes up on 7 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 German ones, then swap. It turns listening into speaking.
- 3
Make it a routine
At 3:02, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Freeze like a statue every time the music stops.
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“The Instruments” in other languages
The same song, written for each language we teach.
134 German songs, 32 topics, one joyful habit
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