18 February

Pierre

Y avait dix filles dans un pré (also known as Dix filles dans un pré) is a traditional French song with lyrics dating from the 17th century.

The story of the song

This song tells the story of a king's son who cannot choose one of the ten girls presented to him to marry.

This old song, already popular in the 17th century, includes some famous characters: the Duchess of Montbazon and Anne de Bourbon-Condé, who became Duchess of Maine through her marriage to the bastard son of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan.

Who are the ten girls to be married?

There are ten girls whose names are mentioned in the song:

Dine (or Nine), Chine, Claudine, Martine, Catherinette, Catherina, Suzon, the Duchess of Monbazon, Madeleine (or Célimène) and the Du Maine.

Two of the girls are historical characters who really existed.

The Duchess of Montbazon

This is Marie d'Avaugour, duchess of Montbazon (1610-1657). This lady of the Breton nobility was known for her political and gallant intrigues.

Marie d'Avaugour Duchesse de Montbazon

Marie d'Avaugour, Duchesse de Montbazon

She was expelled from the Court by King Louis XIII.

The Duchess of Maine

The Dumaine is in fact Anne-Louise-Bénédicte de Bourbon, Duchess of Maine - or "duchesse du Maine" (1676-1753). She was the granddaughter of the Grand Condé and daughter of the Prince of Condé. In 1692 she married Louis-Auguste de Bourbon, Duke of Maine - or "duc du Maine" (1670-1736), the legitimate bastard son of Louis XIV and Madame de Montespan, at Versailles.

Louise Bénédicte de Bourbon Duchesse du Maine

Louise Bénédicte de Bourbon, Duchesse du Maine

In her château at Sceaux, she held a veritable court, known as the "little court of Sceaux", giving costume parties and welcoming writers and artists, including some of the greatest French minds of her time.

Chateau de Sceaux © French Moments

Chateau de Sceaux © French Moments

Y avait dix filles dans un pré

Lyrics, music, free download... let's learn more about the popular song:

The lyrics in French

The original song of Y avait dix filles dans un pré has 6 verses.

Couplet 1

Y avait dix filles dans un pré

Toutes les dix à marier

Y'avait Dine, y'avait Chine

Y'avait Claudine et Martine
Ah ! Ah ! Catherinette et Catherina

Y'avait la belle Suzon

La duchesse de Monbazon

Y'avait Madeleine

Puis y'avait la Du Maine


Couplet 2

Le fils du roi vint à passer

Il est a toutes saluées

Salut Dine, salut Chine,

Salut Claudine et Martine
Ah ! Ah ! Catherinette et Catherina

Salua la belle Suzon

La duchesse de Montbazon

Salut Madeleine

Baiser à la Du Maine


Couplet 3

A toutes il fit un cadeau

A toutes il fit un cadeau

Bague à Dine, bague à Chine

Bague à Claudine et Martine
Ah ! Ah ! Catherinette et Catherina

Bague à la belle Suzon

La duchesse de Montbazon

Bague à Madeleine

Diamant à la Du Maine


Couplet 4

Puis leur offrit à goûter

Puis leur offrit à goûter

Pomme à Dine, pomme à Chine

Pomme à Claudine et Martine
Ah ! Ah ! Catherinette et Catherina

Pomme à la belle Suzon

La duchesse de Montbazon

Pomme à Madeleine

Gâteau à la Du Maine


Couplet 5

Puis leur offrit à coucher

Puis leur offrit à coucher

Paille à Dine, Paille à Chine

Paille à Claudine et Martine
Ah ! Ah ! Catherinette et Catherina

Paille à la belle Suzon

La duchesse de Montbazon

Paille à Madeleine

Grand lit à la Du Maine


Couplet 6

Puis toutes il les renvoya

Puis toutes il les renvoya

Adieu Dine, adieu Chine

Adieu Claudine et Martine
Ah ! Ah ! Catherinette et Catherina

Adieu la belle Suzon

La duchesse de Montbazon

Adieu Madeleine

Et garda la Du Maine

Translation of the lyrics into English

Here is an approximative translation into English:

Verse 1

There were ten girls in a meadow
All ten to be married
There was Dine, there was Chine
There was Claudine and Martine
Ah ! Ah ! Catherinette and Catherina
There was the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Monbazon
There was Madeleine
Then there was the Du Maine


Verse 2

The king's son came to pass
He greeted them all
Hi Dine, Hi Chine,
Hi Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Greeted the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Hi Madeleine
Kiss to the Du Maine


Verse 3

To all of them he made a gift
To all of them he made a gift
Ring to Dine, ring to Chine
Ring to Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Ring to the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Ring to Madeleine
Diamond to the Du Maine


Verse 4

Then offered them a toast
Then offered them a toast
Apple to Dine, apple to Chine
Apple to Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Apple to the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Apple to Madeleine
Cake to the Du Maine


Verse 5

Then offered them to sleep
Then offered them to sleep
Straw to Dine, Straw to Chine
Straw for Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Straw for the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Straw to Madeleine
Large bed to the Du Maine


Verse 6

Then he sent them all away
Then he sent them all away
Goodbye Dine, goodbye Chine
Farewell Claudine and Martine
Ah! Ah! Catherinette and Catherina
Farewell to the beautiful Suzon
The Duchess of Montbazon
Farewell Madeleine
[But he] kept the Du Maine

Download the Lyrics for FREE!

No need to type name or email 😀

Y avait dix filles dans un pré © French Moments

French Nursery Rhymes

My challenge for the year 2023 is to publish 80 French Nursery Rhymes lyrics and descriptions (list below). Come back as time goes by to discover the new articles:

French Nursery Rhymes Cover by French Moments
French Nursery Rhymes
A la claire fontaine © French Moments
Ah ! dis-moi donc bergère © French Moments
Ah ! Les crocodiles © French Moments
Ah ! vous dirai-je, maman © French Moments
Ainsi font, font, font © French Moments
Alouette gentille alouette © French Moments
Au clair de la lune © French Moments
Au feu les pompiers © French Moments
Au royaume de Diguedondaine © French Moments
Auprès de ma blonde © French Moments
Aux marches du palais © French Moments
Blanc Blanc Blanc belle rose © French Moments
Bon voyage Monsieur Dumollet © French Moments
Buvons un coup ma serpette est perdue © French Moments
C'est la mère Michel © French Moments
C'était Anne de Bretagne © French Moments
Cadet Rousselle © French Moments
Car c’est un bon camarade © French Moments
Chère Élise © French Moments
Chevaliers de la table ronde © French Moments
Colchiques dans les prés © French Moments
Compagnons de la Marjolaine © French Moments
Dame Tartine © French Moments
Dans les prisons de Nantes © French Moments
Dansons la capucine © French Moments
Dodo, l'enfant do © French Moments
En passant par la Lorraine © French Moments
Fais dodo © French Moments
Fleur d’épine © French Moments
Frère Jacques © French Moments
Gentil coquelicot © French Moments
Il court, il court, le furet © French Moments
Il était un petit cordonnier © French Moments
Il était un petit navire © French Moments
Il était une bergère © French Moments
Il pleut, il pleut, bergère © French Moments
J'ai du bon tabac © French Moments
J'ai un gros nez rouge © French Moments
J'fais pipi sur le gazon © French Moments
Je te tiens par la barbichette © French Moments
Joyeux anniversaire © French Moments
La bonne aventure ô gué © French Moments
La danse des canards © French Moments
La légende de saint Nicolas © French Moments
Le bon roi Dagobert © French Moments
Le carillon de Vendôme © French Moments
Le coucou © French Moments
Le facteur n'est pas passé © French Moments
Le fermier dans son pré © French Moments
Le temps des cerises © French Moments
Le temps du muguet © French Moments
Le vieux MacDonald © French Moments
Les filles de La Rochelle © French Moments
Maman les p'tits bateaux © French Moments
Malbrough s'en va-t-en guerre © French Moments
Meunier, tu dors © French Moments
Mignonne allons voir si la rose © French Moments
Mon âne © French Moments
Mon père m'a donné un mari © French Moments
Ne pleure pas Jeannette © French Moments
Nous n'irons plus au bois © French Moments
Ô gai, vive la rose © French Moments
Passe passe passera © French Moments
Pirouette Cacahuète © French Moments
Plantons la vigne © French Moments
Pomme de reinette et pomme d'api © French Moments
Pomme, pêche, poire, abricot © French Moments
Promenons-nous dans les bois © French Moments
Savez-vous planter les choux ? © French Moments
Sur la route de Dijon © French Moments
Sur la route de Louviers © French Moments
Sur le pont d'Avignon © French Moments
Sur le pont du nord © French Moments
Tout va très bien madame la marquise © French Moments
Trois jeunes tambours © French Moments
Un éléphant ça trompe énormément © French Moments
Un kilomètre à pied © French Moments
Un, deux, trois, nous irons au bois © French Moments
Une chanson douce © French Moments
Une poule sur un mur © French Moments
Une souris verte © French Moments
V'la le bon vent © French Moments
Voici le mois de mai © French Moments
Y avait dix filles dans un pré © French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of the Discovery Course on the Secrets of the Eiffel Tower and the Christmas book "Voyage au Pays de Noël".

Like it? Leave a comment!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Transparency: Some blog posts and pages may contain affiliate or sponsored links. If you are planning a trip, the use of these links helps us to run the site. There is no additional cost to you. All you have to do is click on the link and any booking you make is automatically tracked. Thank you for your support!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK

20 OFFBEAT PLACES IN PARIS

Ebook 20 amazing offbeat places in Paris front cover