Si jamais j'oublie – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: ZAZ
• Album: Isa

Lyrics & Translation

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rappelle /ʁapɛl/ B1	verb - to remind
oubli(e) /ubli/ B1	noun/verb - forget / forgotten
jour /ʒuʁ/ A1	noun - day
année /ane/ A2	noun - year
temps /tɑ̃/ A2	noun - time / weather
olvidé /uvlidi/ B2	verb - I forgot
secouer /səkue/ B1	verb - to shake
envie /ɑ̃vi/ B1	noun - desire / urge
en aller /ɑ̃ ale/ B2	phrase - to go away / to leave
clé /kle/ A2	noun - key
délivrer /delivʁe/ B2	verb - to deliver / to set free
moi /mwa/ A1	pronoun - me / myself
passées /pase/ A2	adjective/verb - passed / spent
cries /kʁi/ A2	noun/verb - cries / crying
passer /pase/ B1	verb - to pass / to spend time

Key Grammar Structures

• Si jamais j'oublie

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Si + Imparfait + Conditionnel Présent/Futur Simple)

  ➔ This uses the 'si' clause to express a hypothetical situation. "Si" + the imperfect subjunctive (which is formed using the imparfait here as 'j'oublie' is replaced with 'j'oubliais') and the main clause is in the conditional present.

• Rappelle-moi le jour et l'année

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ "Rappelle-moi" is a direct command. The verb "rappeler" is conjugated in the imperative mood (second person singular, without the subject pronoun "tu").

• Et si j'ai oublié

  ➔ Conditional Clause (Si + Passé Composé + Futur Simple/Imperative)

  ➔ This uses the 'si' clause again, but this time with the *passé composé*, indicating a completed action in the past that has a consequence in the present or future. The main clause would either be in the *futur simple* or the *imperative* mood.

• Tu peux me secouer

  ➔ Modal verb 'pouvoir' + infinitive

  ➔ The verb "pouvoir" (can, to be able to) is used as a modal verb followed by the infinitive "secouer" (to shake). It expresses permission or possibility.

• Enferme-moi et jette la clé

  ➔ Two imperative verbs connected by 'et'

  ➔ This line contains two imperative verbs: "Enferme-moi" (lock me up) and "jette la clé" (throw away the key). They are connected by the conjunction 'et' indicating a sequence of actions.

• Dis comment je m'appelle?

  ➔ Indirect Question

  ➔ This is an indirect question introduced by the verb 'dis' (tell). Instead of the direct question "Comment est-ce que je m'appelle?", it uses the structure 'dis + question word + subject + verb'.

• Pourquoi je suis en vie

  ➔ Subordinate clause introduced by 'pourquoi'

  ➔ Here, "pourquoi je suis en vie" functions as a noun clause acting as the object of the implied verb "Rappelle-moi" (Remember/Tell me) from the previous lines. 'Pourquoi' introduces the reason or purpose.

• Ce que je m'étais promis

  ➔ Relative Pronoun 'ce que'

  ➔ 'Ce que' is a relative pronoun that functions as the object of the verb "promis" (promised). It refers to something that was promised.