Douce nuit – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Francine Chantereau
• Album: Les plus belles comptines de Noël

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the serene beauty of "Douce nuit" by Francine Chantereau, a French rendition of the beloved "Silent Night." This song offers a gentle way to immerse yourself in the French language while embracing the peaceful spirit of the Christmas season. Its simple yet profound lyrics capture the magic of the night of Jesus' birth, making it a special piece for both language learners and music lovers.

[English]

Gentle night, holy night

In the sky, the star shines bright

The foretold mystery is now fulfilled

This sleeping child on the hay

It's infinite love

It's infinite love

Sweet child, gentle lamb

How pure, how beautiful

Hear the pipes sounding gently

The shepherds leading their flocks

To his humble manger

To his humble manger

He is coming towards us

As a gift without return

From a world unaware of love

Where his stay begins today

May he be king forever

May he be king forever

What a welcome for a king

No shelter, no roof

In his manger, he shivers cold

O sinner, don't wait for the cross

Jesus suffers for you

Jesus suffers for you

...

[French]

Douce nuit, sainte nuit

Dans les cieux, l'astre luit

Le mystère annoncé s'accomplit

Cet enfant sur la paille endormi

C'est l'amour infini

C'est l'amour infini

Doux enfant, doux agneau

Qu'il est saint, qu'il est beau

Entendez résonner les pipeaux

Des bergers conduisant leurs troupeaux

Vers son humble berceau

Vers son humble berceau

C'est vers nous qu'il accourt

En un don sans retour

De ce monde ignorant de l'amour

Où commence aujourd'hui son séjour

Qu'il soit roi pour toujours

Qu'il soit roi pour toujours

Quel accueil pour un roi

Point d'abri, point de toit

Dans sa crèche il grelotte de froid

Ô pécheur, sans attendre la croix

Jésus souffre pour toi

Jésus souffre pour toi

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
nuit /nɥi/ A2	noun - night
cieux /sjø/ B2	noun - heavens, skies
lui /lɥi/ A1	pronoun - him
mystère /misteʁ/ B2	noun - mystery, secret
enfant /ɑ̃fɑ̃/ A2	noun - child
amour /amuʁ/ A2	noun - love
doux /du/ B1	adjective - gentle, soft
agneau /aɲo/ B2	noun - lamb
saint /sɛ̃/ B2	adjective - holy, saint
berceau /bɛʁ.so/ B2	noun - cradle, crib
rois /ʁwa/ B2	noun - kings
accueil /akjœj/ B2	noun - welcome, reception
crèche /kʁɛʃ/ B2	noun - nativity scene, cradle
froid /fʁwa/ A2	noun - cold adjective - cold (describes temperature)
souffre /sufʁ/ B2	verb - to suffer

Key Grammar Structures

• Dans les cieux, l'astre luit

  ➔ Prepositional phrase indicating location "dans les cieux" (in the skies/heavens)

  ➔ The phrase "dans les cieux" uses a preposition "dans" meaning "in" to specify where the star shines.

• Le mystère annoncé s'accomplit

  ➔ Reflexive verb construction "s'accomplit" (it is fulfilled)

  ➔ The reflexive verb "s'accomplit" indicates that the mystery is being fulfilled or realized.

• C'est l'amour infini

  ➔ Use of "C'est" (it is) + noun phrase to identify or define

  ➔ The phrase "C'est l'amour infini" uses "C'est" to declare that love is infinite.

• Entendez résonner les pipeaux

  ➔ Imperative verb "entendez" (hear/listen)

  ➔ The verb "entendez" is the imperative form of "entendre" meaning "to hear" or "listen".

• Vers son humble berceau

  ➔ Prepositional phrase indicating direction "vers" + noun

  ➔ The preposition "vers" means "towards" or "to" indicating movement toward the humble cradle.

• Quitte d'abri, point de toit

  ➔ Negative phrase with "point de" to mean "no" or "not a", indicating absence

  ➔ The expression "point de" followed by a noun means "no" or "not a" indicating absence of shelter or roof.

• Jésus souffre pour toi

  ➔ Verb "souffre" (suffers) with preposition "pour" (for) + pronoun "toi" (you)

  ➔ The verb "souffre" is in the present tense meaning "suffers", and "pour toi" means "for you".