Oyfn pripetshik

Oyfn pripetshik brent a fayerl,

In the little hearth flickers a little flame,

Un in shtub iz heys,

Warmth spreads through the house,

Un der rebe lernt kleyne kinderlekh

And the rabbi teaches little children 

Dem alef-beys.

 The Hebrew Aleph-bet.

Refren:

Refrain:

Zet zhe, kinderlekh, gedenkt zhe, tayere,

Listen carefully, remember, little ones,

Vos ir lernt do;

What you're learning now,

Zogt zhe nokh a mol, un take nokh a mol,

Repeat it once again, again and yet again,

Komets alef - o!

The sign under the Aleph is O.

Lernt, kinder, mit groys kheyshek -

 Study, children, with great desire,

Azoy zog ikh aykh on:

 Don't let your learning lag;

Vers'vet gikher fun aykh kenen ivre,

 Whoever learns the lesson very quickly

Der bakumt a fon.

 Will receive a flag.

          Refren: Zet zhe, kinderlekh, ... 

           Refrain: Listen carefully, ...

Lernt, kinder, hot nit moyre,

 Study, little ones, do not be afraid,

Yeder onheyb iz shver;

 Every beginning is hard,

Gliklekh iz der, vos hot gelernt toyre -

 Happy is the man who studies Torah,

Tsi darf der mentsh nokh mer?

 Great is his reward.

          Refren: Zet zhe, kinderlekh, ...

           Refrain: Listen carefully, ...

Ir vet, kinder, elter vern,

 When, dear children, you will older be

Vet ir aleyn farshteyn,

 You will understand it all:

Vifl in di oysies lign trern

 The pain that lies within these letters

Un vi fil geveyn.

 And the tears that fall.

          Refren: Zet zhe, kinderlekh, ...

           Refrain: Listen carefully, ...

Az ir vet, kinder, dem goles shlepn,

 As you endure our years of suffering,

Oysgemutshet zayn,

 Their burden you will bear,

Zolt ir fun di oysies koyekh shepn -

 Be inspired by these little letters,

Kukt in zey arayn!

 Their message for all to share.

          Refren: Zet zhe, kinderlekh, ...

           Refrain: Listen carefully, ...

Oyfn pripetshik brent a fayerl,

 In the little hearth flickers a little flame,

Un in shtub iz heys,

 Warmth spreads through the house,

Un der rebe lernt kleyne kinderlekh

 And the rabbi teaches the little children

Dem alef-beys.

 The Hebrew aleph-bet.