12 Days Of Christmas – English Lyrics

• By: Super Simple Songs

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the joy of language through 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'! This classic carol not only teaches counting and vocabulary but also offers a glimpse into cultural traditions, enhanced by Super Simple Songs' engaging visuals for young learners. Perfect for festive fun and language enrichment!

[English]

On the first day of Christmas My true love gave to me

a partridge in a pear tree

On the second day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

On the third day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Three French hens Two turtle doves

and a partridge in a pear tree

On the fourth day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Four calling birds Three French hens

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

On the fifth day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Five golden rings

Four calling birds Three French hens

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

On the sixth day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Six geese-a-laying

Five golden rings

Four calling birds Three French hens

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

On the seventh day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Seven swans-a-swimming Six geese-a-laying

Five golden rings

Four calling birds Three French hens

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

On the eighth day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Eight maids-a-milking Seven swans-a-swimming

Six geese-a-laying

Five golden rings

Four calling birds Three French hens

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

On the ninth day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Nine ladies dancing Eight maids-a-milking

Seven swans-a-swimming Six geese-a-laying

Five golden rings

Four calling birds Three French hens

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

On the tenth day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Ten lords-a-leaping Nine ladies dancing

Eight maids-a-milking Seven swans-a-swimming

Six geese-a-laying

Five golden rings

Four calling birds Three French hens

Two turtle doves And a partridge in a pear tree

On the eleventh of Christmas My true love gave to me

Eleven pipers piping Ten lords-a-leaping

Nine ladies dancing Eight maids-a-milking

Seven swans-a-swimming Six geese-a-laying

Five golden rings

Four calling birds Three French hens

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas My true love gave to me

Twelve drummers drumming Eleven pipers piping

Ten lords-a-leaping Nine ladies dancing

Eight maids-a-milking Seven swans-a-swimming

Six geese-a-laying

Five golden rings

Four calling birds Three French hens

Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree

And a partridge in a pear tree

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
partridge /ˈpɑːrtrɪdʒ/ or /ˈpɑːrtrɪdʒ/ B1	noun - a bird that is often hunted or kept for sport or food
ring /rɪŋ/ A2	noun - a thin circle of metal or other material, worn on the finger as jewelry
bird /bɜːrd/ or /bɝːd/ A1	noun - a creature with feathers and wings that can usually fly
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - a strong feeling of affection and care for someone or something
tree /triː/ A1	noun - a woody plant with a trunk and branches
call /kɔːl/ or /kɑːl/ A2	verb - to speak or to contact someone by phone
dance /dæns/ or /dɑːns/ A2	verb - to move the body rhythmically to music
sing /sɪŋ/ A1	verb - to produce musical sounds with your voice
fly /flaɪ/ A2	verb - to move through the air using wings

Key Grammar Structures

• On the first day of Christmas

  ➔ Prepositional phrase indicating time (On + the + ordinal number + day)

  ➔ The preposition "on" is used with specific days or dates. "First" is an ordinal number indicating the order in a sequence.

• My true love gave to me

  ➔ Past simple tense (gave) - used to describe a completed action in the past.

  ➔ "Gave" is the past tense of the verb "give." The structure "gave to me" indicates the direction of the gift.

• a partridge in a pear tree

  ➔ Indefinite article "a" + noun phrase

  ➔ "A" is used before a singular, countable noun when it is mentioned for the first time or when the specific identity is not known. The noun phrase describes what was given.

• Two turtle doves

  ➔ Number + plural noun

  ➔ This demonstrates the use of a number to quantify a plural noun. The plural form of "dove" is "doves".

• Six geese-a-laying

  ➔ Number + noun + gerund phrase, archaic/poetic language

  ➔ The phrase "geese-a-laying" uses the archaic form "a-" before a gerund, meaning "in the process of laying eggs." It is a less common and more poetic construction.

• Seven swans-a-swimming

  ➔ Similar to "geese-a-laying," using archaic/poetic form

  ➔ "Swans-a-swimming" continues the pattern, using "a-" before the gerund "swimming," creating a descriptive and somewhat old-fashioned effect.

• Ten lords-a-leaping

  ➔ Number + noun + gerund phrase

  ➔ "Ten lords-a-leaping" uses the less common structure of "a-" before the gerund. "Lords" is in plural noun.

• Eleven pipers piping

  ➔ Number + plural noun + present participle (gerund)

  ➔ The structure describes a number of performers and their activity. "piping" is used here as a gerund describing what the pipers are doing.