Guten Tag! It’s 13. Dezember and almost time to say Frohe Weihnachten. To get into the spirit, today I wanted to share some German Weihnachtslieder (Christmas songs) with you. Not only is it fun for language learners to learn songs in other languages, but songs are actually a brilliant way to improve language proficiency; because there is a tune associated with the words, songs can help us to recall these words quicker, and imitating what we hear can help improve pronunciation. So let’s get started with 6 German Language Christmas Songs!

*Please note I have translated the lyrics literally, then put the English lyrics (if different) in brackets afterwards.*

O Tannenbaum
O Christmas Tree

I want to include this one as it’s a very famous Christmas song, but as there is already a post about it, please click here to read all about it (and listen to the song)!

Stille Nacht
Silent Night

Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht
Silent Night, Holy Night
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
All are sleeping, the only one who wakes (‘All is calm, all is bright’)
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar.
Is the holy couple (‘Round yon virgin mother and child’)
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
The handsome boy with curly hair (‘Holy infant so tender and mild’)
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

 

 

Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, klingt`s von nah und fern.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, you can hear far and wide (‘Jingle all the way’)
Komm, wir spann` die Rösser an, die Schellen soll man hör`n.
Come let’s get the horses, the bells must be heard (‘O what fun it is to ride on a one-horse open sleigh’)
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, klingt`s zur Weihnachtszeit.
Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, it sounds like Christmas time (‘Jingle all the way’)
Glocken schallen durch das Land, Weihnacht ist nicht mehr weit.
Bells ring out across the land, Christmas is not far away (‘O what fun it is to ride on a one-horse open sleigh’)

Schneeflöckchen, Weißröckchen
Little snowflake, little white skirt

Here is perhaps a lesser-known Christmas song about wishing and hoping for snow!

Schneeflöckchen Weißröckchen,
Little snowflake, little white skirt
Wann kommst du geschneit?
When will you come snowing down?
Du wohnst in den Wolken,
You live in the clouds
Dein Weg ist so weit.
Your journey is so long

Lasst uns froh und munter sein
Let us be happy and cheerful

This Christmas song is specifically for St. Nikolaus Tag, which is celebrated in Germany on December 6^th. Learn all about St. Niokolaus Tag here.

Lasst uns froh und munter sein
und uns in dem Herrn erfreu’n.
Lustig, lustig, tra-le-ra-le-ra,
bald ist Nikolausabend da,
bald ist Nikolausabend da.

Let us be happy and cheerful
And rejoice in the Lord
Fun, fun, tra-le-ra-le-ra
St. Nicholas Eve will soon be here
St. Nicholas Eve will soon be here

All I Want For Christmas Is You
Sei einfach an Weihnachten da (‘Just be here on Christmas day’)

To finish, here is how the Christmas pop song All I Want For Christmas Is You (Mariah Carey) sounds in German. Unfortunately Gold im Mund haven’t provided Songtexte (lyrics), but I hope you can enjoy the sound of this hugely famous song in the German language. 🙂

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post. What is your favourite Weihnachtslied, either from this list or otherwise? If it’s not on here, why not try searching for a German language version of that song and learning a verse or two from it? Viel Spaß (have fun)! 🙂

Constanze x