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“Acht Arme” — Octopus Song Song in German for Kids

In “Acht Arme” (The Octopus Song), kids sing key German words like der Krake, acht Arme, fünf and sechs, going back and forth between English and German, so the meaning is never a mystery. It's a early-learner (A1) song from Unit 29: At the Sea, 2:57 long, made for ages 2–8.

  • 🇩🇪 German
  • Level: A1
  • Unit 29 · Am Meer
  • ⏱ 2:57
  • 🔒 Premium

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“Acht Arme” 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
Who lives down where the seaweed sways?Wer wohnt da unten, wo die Algen wiegen?
Der Krake! The octopus plays!
Eight arms—show them, one by one!Acht Arme — zeig sie, einen nach dem anderen!
Acht Arme! Acht Arme! This is fun!
One arm waves, hello to you!Ein Arm winkt, hallo zu dir!
Er winkt! Hallo! Ich winke auch!He waves! Hello! I wave too!
Two arms clap—let’s clap along!Zwei Arme klatschen — klatsch mit!
Er klatscht! Klatsch, klatsch! Our counting song!
Three arms swim through bubbles bright!Drei Arme schwimmen durch helle Blasen!
Er schwimmt! Links und rechts—what a sight!
Four arms tickle—careful, there!Vier Arme kitzeln — Vorsicht!
Kitzel, kitzel! Everywhere!
Count with me—one, two, three, four!Zähl mit mir — eins, zwei, drei, vier!
Eins, zwei, drei, vier—then four arms more!
Five, six, seven, eight—say them strong!Fünf, sechs, sieben, acht — sag sie laut!
Fünf, sechs, sieben, acht! Sing along!
Der Krake, acht Arme, clap and sway!
Acht Arme—acht Arme—hip hooray!
A hug!Eine Umarmung!
Eine Umarmung!A hug!
The Krake hugs us all today!
When he’s shy, what does he do?Wenn er schüchtern ist, was macht er dann?
Er wechselt die Farbe—changes color too!
Red!Rot!
Rot!Red!
Blue!Blau!
Blau!Blue!
Purple!Lila!
Lila! Look at him now!
He turns red, then blue, then purple!Er wird rot, dann blau, dann lila!
Rot, blau, lila—colorful!
He gets a fright—what comes out?Er erschrickt — was kommt heraus?
Tinte! Tinte! Squirt about!
An ink cloud floats across the sea!Eine Tintenwolke schwebt durchs Meer!
Eine Tintenwolke—one, two, three!
Where did he go? Can you see?Wo ist er hin? Siehst du ihn?
Er versteckt sich! Not by me!
Peekaboo, Krake, come say hi!
Hallo! I’m here—let’s count and try!
Count with me—one, two, three, four!Zähl mit mir — eins, zwei, drei, vier!
Eins, zwei, drei, vier—then four arms more!
Five, six, seven, eight—say them strong!Fünf, sechs, sieben, acht — sag sie laut!
Fünf, sechs, sieben, acht! Sing along!
Der Krake, acht Arme, clap and sway!
Acht Arme—acht Arme—hip hooray!
A hug!Eine Umarmung!
Eine Umarmung!A hug!
The Krake hugs us all today!
Can you say it? Wave!Kannst du es sagen? Winken!
Er winkt!He waves!
Clap!Klatschen!
Er klatscht!He claps!
Change color!Farbe wechseln!
Er wechselt die Farbe!He changes color!
Hide!Verstecken!
Er versteckt sich!He hides!
Eins, zwei, drei, vier—ready for more!
Count with me—one, two, three, four!Zähl mit mir — eins, zwei, drei, vier!
Eins, zwei, drei, vier—then four arms more!
Five, six, seven, eight—say them strong!Fünf, sechs, sieben, acht — sag sie laut!
Fünf, sechs, sieben, acht! Sing along!
Der Krake, acht Arme, clap and sway!
Acht Arme—acht Arme—hip hooray!
A hug!Eine Umarmung!
Eine Umarmung!A hug!
The Krake hugs us all today!
Auf Wiedersehen, little friend!
Tschüss, Krake—see you again!
Fünf, sechs, sieben, acht—hooray!

Key German words in this song

The 13 words and phrases this song is built around.

GermanEnglish
der Krakeoctopus
acht Armeeight arms
fünffive
sechssix
siebenseven
achteight
er winktit waves
er klatschtit claps
eine Umarmunga hug
er wechselt die Farbeit changes color
rotred
die Tinteink
er versteckt sichit hides

How to use this song with your child

  1. 1

    Listen for “acht”

    “acht” (eight) is sung on 11 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. 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. 3

    Make it a routine

    At 2:57, play it once a day at the same moment for a week. Dive down low and come back up when the song does.

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