Un, deux, trois, nous irons aux bois

One, two, three, we will go to the woods

This is the title of a little nursery rhyme that is very well-known among French-speaking children. It is taught to children to teach them to count to twelve. The rhymes are quite close but not always identical: six ends with an [is] sound while cerises ends with an [iz] sound, for example. There is also a liaison in the first line, between irons and aux, and this part is pronounced: nous irons z aux bois.

1, 2, 3 (un, deux, trois)

Nous irons aux bois – We will go to the woods

4, 5, 6 (quatre, cinq, six)

Cueillir des cerises – To pick up cherries

7, 8, 9 (sept, huit, neuf)

Dans mon panier neuf – in my new basket

10, 11, 12 (dix, onze, douze)

Elles seront toutes rouges ! – They will be all red!