French/Texts/National anthems/La Marseillaise

Lessons · Vocabulary · Grammar · Appendices · Texts

Introduction

The song was written and composed in 1792 by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle in Strastburg during the French Revolution, and was originally titled "Chant de guerre pour l'Armée du Rhin". It was adopted as the national anthem in 1795. It acquired its nickname after being sung in Paris by people marching on the capital.

How To Read The Anthem

You will not get much out of the anthem if you skim through it or only know the meanings of half the words. There are two ways you can read it. The first is to read the French text and English translation below. The second way will lead to a greater understanding of the anthem, but is more time consuming. Read a line, look up words you don't know, then continue on to the next line. When you finish reading a verse, you should reread both in French and English to make sure you understand both the overall picture and each line. It may be necessary to repeat this several times. After reading the entire anthem once, quickly read it a second time. You should be able to reread it in no time at all. If you find yourself having trouble rereading the anthem, read it a third time until you are comfortable reading it.

Vocabulary

Word	English meaning
la Patrie	fatherland
le citoyen	citizen

The Anthem

French lyrics	English Translation
I. Allons enfants de la Patrie Le jour de gloire est arrivé ! Contre nous de la tyrannie L'étendard sanglant est levé (bis) Entendez-vous dans les campagnes Mugir ces féroces soldats ? Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras. Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes !	Verse I Arise children of our fatherland, The day of glory has arrived! Against us, tyranny, Has raised its bloodied banner, (1) Do you hear in the fields The howling of these fearsome soldiers? They are coming up into your arms (2) To slit the throats of your sons and consorts!
Refrain : Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	Refrain To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
II. Que veut cette horde d'esclaves De traîtres, de rois conjurés ? Pour qui ces ignobles entraves Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis) Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage Quels transports il doit exciter ? C'est nous qu'on ose méditer De rendre à l'antique esclavage !	Verse II What does this horde of slaves, Traitors, and plotting kings want? For whom these vile chains These long-prepared irons? Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage, What fury must it arouse? It is us they dare plan To return to the old slavery!
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
III. Quoi ces cohortes étrangères ! Feraient la loi dans nos foyers ! Quoi ! ces phalanges mercenaires Terrasseraient nos fils guerriers ! (bis) Grand Dieu ! par des mains enchaînées Nos fronts sous le joug se ploieraient De vils despotes deviendraient Les maîtres des destinées.	Verse III What! These foreign cohorts! They would make laws in our courts! What! These mercenary phalanxes Would cut down our warrior sons Good Lord! By chained hands Our brow would yield under the yoke The vile despots would have themselves be The masters of destiny
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
IV. Tremblez, tyrans et vous perfides L'opprobre de tous les partis Tremblez ! vos projets parricides Vont enfin recevoir leurs prix ! (bis) Tout est soldat pour vous combattre S'ils tombent, nos jeunes héros La France en produit de nouveaux, Contre vous tout prêts à se battre.	Verse IV Tremble, tyrants and traitors The shame of all good men Tremble! Your parricidal schemes Will receive their just reward Against you we are all soldiers If they fall, our young heroes France will bear new ones Ready to join the fight against you
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
V Français, en guerriers magnanimes Portez ou retenez vos coups ! Épargnez ces tristes victimes À regret s'armant contre nous (bis) Mais ces despotes sanguinaires Mais ces complices de Bouillé Tous ces tigres qui, sans pitié Déchirent le sein de leur mère !	Verse V Frenchmen, as magnanimous warriors Bear or hold back your blows Spare these sad victims That they regret taking up arms against us But not these bloody despots These accomplices of Bouillé All these tigers who mercilessly Ripped out their mothers' wombs
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
VI. Amour sacré de la Patrie Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs Liberté, Liberté chérie Combats avec tes défenseurs ! (bis) Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire Accoure à tes mâles accents Que tes ennemis expirants Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire !	Verse VI Sacred patriotic love Lead [and] support our avenging arms Liberty, cherished liberty Fight back with your defenders Under our flags, let victory Hurry to your manly tone So that your enemies, in their last breath [before death] See your triumph and our glory!
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
VII. Couplet des enfants Nous entrerons dans la carrière Quand nos aînés n'y seront plus Nous y trouverons leur poussière Et la trace de leurs vertus (bis) Bien moins jaloux de leur survivre Que de partager leur cercueil Nous aurons le sublime orgueil De les venger ou de les suivre !	Verse VII We shall enter the career (3) When our elders will no longer be there There we shall find their ashes [lit. dust] And the mark of their virtues [We are] Much less jealous of surviving them Than of sharing their coffins [For] We shall have the sublime pride Of avenging or joining [lit. following] them
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
VIII. Couplet supprimé par Servan, Ministre de la Guerre en 1792
Dieu de clémence et de justice Vois nos tyrans, juge nos coeurs Que ta bonté nous soit propice Défends-nous de ces oppresseurs Tu règnes au ciel et sur terre Et devant Toi, tout doit fléchir De ton bras, viens nous soutenir Toi, grand Dieu, maître du tonnerre.	English God of mercy and justice See our tyrants, judge our hearts Thy goodness be with us Defend us from these oppressors You reign in heaven and on earth And before You all must bend In your arms, come support us You Great God, Lord of the thunder.
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
Couplets supplémentaires - Additional Verses
IX. Peuple français, connais ta gloire ; Couronné par l'Égalité, Quel triomphe, quelle victoire, D'avoir conquis la Liberté ! (bis) Le Dieu qui lance le tonnerre Et qui commande aux éléments, Pour exterminer les tyrans, Se sert de ton bras sur la terre.	English French people, know thy glory Crowned by Equality, What a triumph, what a victory, To have won Liberty! The God who throws thunder And who commands the elements, To exterminate the tyrants Uses your arm on earth.
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
X. Nous avons de la tyrannie Repoussé les derniers efforts ; De nos climats, elle est bannie ; Chez les Français les rois sont morts. (bis) Vive à jamais la République ! Anathème à la royauté ! Que ce refrain, partout porté, Brave des rois la politique.	English Of tyranny, we have Rebuffed its last efforts; From our climes, it is banished; Among the French the kings are dead. May the Republic live forever! Anathema to royalty! May this refrain, sung everywhere, Defy politics to kings.
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
XI. La France que l'Europe admire A reconquis la Liberté Et chaque citoyen respire Sous les lois de l'Égalité ; (bis) Un jour son image chérie S'étendra sur tout l'univers. Peuples, vous briserez vos fers Et vous aurez une Patrie !	English France that Europe admires Has reconquered Liberty And every citizen breathes Under the laws of Equality; One day its beloved image Will extend throughout the universe. Peoples, you will break your chains And you will have a fatherland!
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
XII. Foulant aux pieds les droits de l'Homme, Les soldatesques légions Des premiers habitants de Rome Asservirent les nations. (bis) Un projet plus grand et plus sage Nous engage dans les combats Et le Français n'arme son bras Que pour détruire l'esclavage.	English Trampling on the rights of Man, The soldierly legions Of Rome's first inhabitants Enslaved nations. A larger project, and wiser, Engages us in battle And the Frenchman only arms himself In order to destroy slavery.
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
XIII. Oui ! déjà d'insolents despotes Et la bande des émigrés Faisant la guerre aux Sans-Culottes Par nos armes sont altérés ; (bis) Vainement leur espoir se fonde Sur le fanatisme irrité, Le signe de la Liberté Fera bientôt le tour du monde.	English Yes! already insolent despots And the band of emigrants Waging war on the sans-culottes By our weapons are altered; Vainly their hope is based On piqued fanaticism The sign of Liberty Will soon spread around the world.
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
XIV. O vous ! que la gloire environne, Citoyens, illustres guerriers, Craignez, dans les champs de Bellone, Craignez de flétrir vos lauriers ! (bis) Aux noirs soupçons inaccessibles Envers vos chefs, vos généraux, Ne quittez jamais vos drapeaux, Et vous resterez invincibles.	English O you! that glory surrounds, Citizens, illustrious warriors, Fear, in the fields of Bellona, Fear the sullying of your laurels! To dark unfounded suspicions Towards your leaders, your generals, Never leave your flags, And you will remain invincible.
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)
XV. Enfants, que l'Honneur, la Patrie Fassent l'objet de tous nos vœux ! Ayons toujours l'âme nourrie Des feux qu'ils inspirent tous deux. (bis) Soyons unis ! Tout est possible ; Nos vils ennemis tomberont, Alors les Français cesseront De chanter ce refrain terrible :	English Children, let Honor and the Fatherland Be the object of all our wishes! Let us always have souls nourished By fires that might inspire both. Let us be united! Anything is possible; Our vile enemies will fall, Then the French will cease To sing this terrible refrain:
(refrain)
French Aux armes citoyens Formez vos bataillons Marchons, marchons Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons	English To arms, citizens! Form your battalions! Let us march, let us march! Let impure blood (of our enemies) Soak the furrows (of our fields)

(1) The sentence (in French) is inverted, the non-literal translation is : "The bloody banner of tyranny is raised against/before us" but it may be also "Protect us against tyranny, The bloody banner is raised"
(2) Here and in the next line, this is often sung as "nos" ("our") rather than "vos" ("your"); "vos" remains official.
(3) "la carrière" ("the career"), that is, of being in the army.

Questions

French : Lessons · Vocabulary · Grammar · Appendices · Texts