Un Enfant Est ne – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Charles Aznavour

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the timeless beauty of Charles Aznavour's "Un Enfant Est Né." This classic French chanson, released in 1978, offers a poignant reflection on the miracle of birth and the hope it inspires, particularly during the Christmas season. Through its evocative melody and heartfelt lyrics, the song invites listeners to connect with universal themes of new beginnings and the enduring power of love, making it a special piece to explore French culture and emotion.

[English]

A child was born of an unknown father

And millions of men acknowledged him

And adopted him

A child was born, and suddenly the course

Of his time took a different turn

And love was born

It only took

For Jesus to be born

So that in the night

Where beings walked

Without purpose and without master

Hope takes shape

Hope comes alive

A child was born

And everything changed

For men of good will

...

A child was born of an unknown father

And millions of men acknowledged him

And adopted him

A child was born, messenger of the heavens

To leave his life as a precious gift

To humanity

When all seems vain

And everything appears empty

And all is sorrow

When the heart grows cold

Without a light, without a guide

Jesus comes to us and reaches out his hands

And for nearly 2000 years now

When nothing goes according to time’s rhythm

For you and for me, this child is reborn

Let’s all sing of his coming

Yes, let’s all sing of his coming

...

[French]

Un enfant est né de père inconnu

Et des millions d'hommes l'ont reconnu

Et l'ont adopté

Un enfant est né et soudain le cours

De son temps a pris un autre parcours

Et l'amour est né

Il aura suffi

À Jésus de naître

Pour que dans la nuit

Où marchaient les êtres

Sans but et sans maître

L'espoir prenne corps

L'espoir prenne vie

Un enfant est né

Et tout a changé

Pour les hommes de bonne volonté

Un enfant est né de père inconnu

Et des millions d'hommes l'ont reconnu

Et l'ont adopté

Un enfant est né, messager des cieux

Pour léguer sa vie comme un don précieux

À l'humanité

Quand tout paraît vain

Et nous semble vide

Que tout est chagrin

Quand le cœur se ride

Sans lueur, sans guide

Jésus vient à nous et nous tend les mains

Et depuis déjà près de 2000 ans

Lorsque rien ne va au rythme du temps

Pour vous et pour moi renaît cet enfant

Chantons tous son avènement

Oui, chantons tous son avènement

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
enfant /ɑ̃.fɑ̃/ A2	noun - child
naître /nɛtʁ/ A2	verb - to be born
père /pɛʁ/ A2	noun - father
inconnu /ɛ̃.kɔ.ny/ B1	adjective - unknown
million /mi.ljɔ̃/ A2	noun - a number equal to one thousand thousand
homme /ɔm/ A2	noun - man
reconnaître /ʁ(ə).kɛ.nɛtʁ/ B1	verb - to recognize
amour /a.muʁ/ A2	noun - love
vie /vi/ A2	noun - life
culte /kult/ B2	noun - cult
don /dɔ̃/ A2	noun - gift
humanité /y.ma.ni.te/ B2	noun - humanity
rien /ʁjɛ̃/ A1	noun - nothing
coeur /kœʁ/ A2	noun - heart

Key Grammar Structures

• Un enfant est né de père inconnu

  ➔ Passive voice: 'est né' indicates that the subject (un enfant) is acted upon.

  ➔ The phrase "un enfant est né" means "a child is born", emphasizing the event of birth.

• Et des millions d'hommes l'ont reconnu

  ➔ Compound past tense: 'ont reconnu' indicates an action completed in the past.

  ➔ The phrase "des millions d'hommes l'ont reconnu" means "millions of men have recognized him", indicating widespread acknowledgment.

• L'espoir prenne corps

  ➔ Subjunctive mood: 'prenne' expresses a wish or hope.

  ➔ The phrase "L'espoir prenne corps" translates to "Hope takes form", indicating the emergence of hope.

• Quand tout paraît vain

  ➔ Present tense: 'paraît' indicates a current state or condition.

  ➔ The phrase "Quand tout paraît vain" means "When everything seems vain", expressing a feeling of futility.

• Jésus vient à nous et nous tend les mains

  ➔ Present tense: 'vient' indicates an action happening now.

  ➔ The phrase "Jésus vient à nous" means "Jesus comes to us", indicating a present action of arrival.

• Pour vous et pour moi renaît cet enfant

  ➔ Present tense: 'renaît' indicates a rebirth happening now.

  ➔ The phrase "renaît cet enfant" means "this child is reborn", emphasizing the idea of renewal.

• Chantons tous son avènement

  ➔ Imperative mood: 'Chantons' is a command or suggestion.

  ➔ The phrase "Chantons tous son avènement" means "Let us all sing of his coming", encouraging collective action.