L'Empereur, sa femme et le petit prince facts for kids

"L'Empereur, sa femme et le petit prince" (which means "The Emperor, his wife, and the little prince") is a popular French folk song from the second half of the 1800s. This song talks about Napoleon III, who was the Emperor of France, his wife Empress Eugénie, and their son, the Prince Imperial.

Sometimes, you might hear this song with slightly different words, like "le roi, la reine et le petit prince" (the king, the queen, and the little prince). It might also use "Puisque c'est comme ça" instead of "Puisque c'est ainsi," but both mean "since this is how it is." This catchy song is often used in France to help children learn the days of the week in French.

About the Song

This folk song became popular in France during the late 1800s. It tells a simple story about a royal family trying to visit someone's house every day of the week. The song is known for its repeating verses, which makes it easy to remember.

Who Were They?

The song mentions important historical figures from France.

• Napoleon III was the Emperor of France from 1852 to 1870. He was the nephew of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte.
• Empress Eugénie was Napoleon III's wife and the Empress of France. She was known for her fashion and influence.
• The Prince Imperial was their only son. He was meant to be the next emperor, but the French Empire ended before he could rule.

Learning with the Song

One of the main reasons this song is still sung today is its educational value. Because the song repeats the same lines but changes the day of the week, it's a fun way for French children to learn the names of the days in order: Lundi (Monday), Mardi (Tuesday), Mercredi (Wednesday), Jeudi (Thursday), Vendredi (Friday), Samedi (Saturday), and Dimanche (Sunday).

Song Lyrics

Here are the original French lyrics of the song, followed by their English translation.

French Lyrics

1

Lundi matin,
L’empereur, sa femme et le p’tit prince
Sont venus chez moi, pour me serrer la pince.
Comme j’étais parti,
Le p’tit prince a dit :
« Puisque c’est ainsi, nous reviendrons mardi. »

2

Mardi matin,
L’empereur, sa femme et le p’tit prince
Sont venus chez moi, pour me serrer la pince.
Comme j’étais parti,
Le p’tit prince a dit :
« Puisque c’est ainsi, nous reviendrons mercredi. »

3

Mercredi matin,
L’empereur, sa femme et le p’tit prince
Sont venus chez moi, pour me serrer la pince.
Comme j’étais parti,
Le p’tit prince a dit :
« Puisque c’est ainsi, nous reviendrons jeudi. »

4

Jeudi matin,
L’empereur, sa femme et le p’tit prince
Sont venus chez moi, pour me serrer la pince.
Comme j’étais parti,
Le p’tit prince a dit :
« Puisque c’est ainsi, nous reviendrons vendredi. »

5

Vendredi matin,
L’empereur, sa femme et le p’tit prince
Sont venus chez moi, pour me serrer la pince.
Comme j’étais parti,
Le p’tit prince a dit :
« Puisque c’est ainsi, nous reviendrons samedi. »

6

Samedi matin,
L’empereur, sa femme et le p’tit prince
Sont venus chez moi, pour me serrer la pince.
Comme j’étais parti,
Le p’tit prince a dit :
« Puisque c’est ainsi, nous reviendrons dimanche. »

7

Dimanche matin,
L’empereur, sa femme et le p’tit prince
Sont venus chez moi, pour me serrer la pince.
Comme j’étais parti,
Le p’tit prince a dit :
« Puisque c’est ainsi, nous ne reviendrons plus. »

English Translation