Alphabet song facts for kids
An alphabet song is a special kind of song. It helps children learn the alphabet. These songs usually sing the letters of a language in their correct order.
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The A.B.C. Song: A Classic
The song "The A.B.C." or "A.B.Cs" is super famous. It's probably the most well-known alphabet song, especially in the United States.
This song was first officially published in 1835. A music publisher from Boston named Charles Bradlee copyrighted it. He called it "The A.B.C., a German air with variations for the flute with an easy accompaniment for the piano forte." The music was arranged by Louis Le Maire, a composer from the 1700s.
Did you know the tune for "The A.B.C." song is the same as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"? It's also very similar to "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep"! This tune was also used by the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for some of his piano music.
Here are the words to the classic "A.B.C." song:
- A, B, C, D, E, F, G...
- H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P...
- Q, R, S.../ T, U, V...
- W... X.../ Y and Z.
- Now, I know my ABCs.
- Next time, won't you sing with me.
Singing the Alphabet Backwards
Some people like to sing the alphabet in reverse! This version goes from Z to A instead of A to Z.
Here's how it might sound:
- z-y-x, w
- v-u-t, s-r-q
- p-o-n-m-l-k-j
- i-h-g-f-e-d-c-b-a
- Now you know your ZYXs
- I bet that's not what you expected!
"Zed" or "Zee"?
In the United States, the letter Z is usually pronounced "zee." But in many other English-speaking countries, like the UK, Canada, and Australia, it's pronounced "zed."
The "A.B.C." song usually uses the "zee" sound to rhyme. However, there are versions of the song that use "zed."
One way to sing it with "zed" is to change the last line:
- a-b-c-d-e-f-g
- h-i-j-k-l-m-n
- o-p-q-r-s-t-u
- v-w-x-y-z(ed)
Another "zed" version goes like this:
- a-b-c, d-e-f
- g-h-i-j-k-l-m
- n-o-p, q-r-s
- t-u-v-w-x-y-z(ed)
French-Canadian Alphabet Song
In Canada, children also learn a French version of the alphabet song. It uses the same tune. The only small change is usually in the last line. This is because the French letter 'y' has two syllables when spoken.
Phonics Songs
The English language has 26 letters, but it has about 40 different sounds! These sounds are called phonemes. To help children learn these sounds, many "phonics songs" have been created. These songs teach kids the different sounds each letter can make.
Acrostic Songs
Some alphabet songs are also "acrostic" songs. This means that each letter in the song stands for something.
For example, the song "A, You're Adorable" (also known as "The Alphabet Love Song") was recorded in 1948. It uses each letter of the alphabet to start a loving phrase.
A more recent example is from the musical Matilda. In the "School Song," the letters of the alphabet are spelled out using sounds, creating an acrostic.
Backwards Alphabet Songs
Singing the alphabet backward is a fun challenge! The group Wee Sing released an alphabet song called "ZYXs" that goes in reverse order.
The Canadian children's TV show The Big Comfy Couch also featured a backward alphabet song in one of its episodes.
In 1966, comedian Soupy Sales released a song called "Backwards Alphabet." It sang the alphabet in reverse. The original version was performed by actress Judi Rolin with the Smothers Brothers in a TV show called Alice Through the Looking Glass.
