Chad Gadya - Translations

Appendix to the One Only Kid webpage

 

Traditional Aramaic version
Ladino translation
Fun English version


 


Traditional Aramaic Version

Chad gadya, chad gadya  One only kid, one only kid
Dezabin aba bitrei zuzim that Father bought (sold) for two zuzim 
Chad gadya, chad gadya. One only kid, one only kid.
   
Ve'ata shunra de'achla legadya There came a cat that ate the kid
Dezabin aba bitrei zuzim that Father bought for two zuzim
Chad gadya, chad gadya. One only kid, one only kid.
   
...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ... ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...
   
Ve'ata ha-Kadosh Baruch Hu Along came the Holy One Blessed Be He
veshachat lemal'ach hamavet, and slew the Angel of Death,
deshachat leshochet, who slew the ritual slaughterer
deshachat letora, who slaughtered the ox
de shata lemaya, which drank the water
dechava lenura, which put out the fire
desaraf lechutra, which burnt the stick
dehika lechalba, which hit the dog
denashach leshunra, which bit the cat 
de'achla legadya, which ate the kid
dezabin aba bitrei zuzim which Father bought for two zuzim.
Chad gadya, chad gadya. One only kid, one only kid.


 

Ladino Translation  -  El kavritiko

(Watch the video with Yehoram Gaon)

Un kavritiko ke lo merko mi padre A little kid which my father bought
por dos levanim. for two white coins 
   
I vino el gato i se komyo al kavretiko There came a cat which ate the goat
ke lo merko mi padre which my father bought
por dos levanim. for two white coins.
   
...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ... ...  ...  ...  ...  ...  ...
   
I vino el Santo Bendicho El    And the Holy One Blessed Be He came
i degoyo al malah amavet and slew the Angel of Death  
ke degoyo al shohet, who slew the ritual slaughterer
ke degoyo al buey, who slaughtered the ox
ke se bevyo la agua, which drank the water
ke amato el fuego, which put out the fire
ke kemo el palo, which burned the stick
ke aharvo el perro, which hit the dog
ke modryo el gato, which bit the cat
ke se komio el kavritiko which ate the kid
ke lo merko mi padre which my father bought
por dos levanim. for two white coins.


 


Fun English version with visual and sound effects!

(with thanks to my friend Barbara Marsh)

 

One pet kid, one pet kid,
Father bid for pet kid
Two zuzim, 'twas so trim,
One pet kid, one pet kid.

Came a cat, fierce and fat
That just did eat pet kid ...

Came a dog [woof!], quite a hog [oink]
which bit the cat ...

Came a stick, big and thick [thump the table]
which beat the dog ...

Came a fire, mounting higher [hand action]
which burnt the stick ...

Came some water which didn't oughta [hand action],
put out the fire ...

Came an ox [mooo] with chicken pox [chook noises]
which drank the water ...

Came the shoykhet mit mir oykhet,
shekhted the ox ...

Came the malakh hamoves who wasn't a novice
and shekhted the shoykhet on mir oykhet ...

Came the most Holy Blessed Be He
of whom we shall make no further mention ...