# What does Frere Jacques mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2007, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869 "2007-05-05T11:08:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2007, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/21 "2007-05-06T16:53:07Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] Hermano Juan, Hermano Juan ¿Duermen? ¿Duermen? Suene los matines! Suene los matines! [/QUOTE] :eek: MY EYES! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/22 "2007-05-07T00:08:10Z")
[QUOTE=Bambi Hassenpfeffer] :eek: MY EYES! :eek: [/QUOTE] Huh? I actually have no idea if that makes any sense. I just put the French into my translation software and that’s what it spit out (except I changed the name to Juan, because the software didn’t know what to do with “Jacques”). ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/23 "2007-05-07T00:37:17Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] Huh? I actually have no idea if that makes any sense. I just put the French into my translation software and that’s what it spit out (except I changed the name to Juan, because the software didn’t know what to do with “Jacques”). [/QUOTE] It was my (supposed-to-be-)funny way of saying that your Spanish version has little to nothing to do with the meaning of the song. Googling around, I found this, which is closer in meaning: “Campanero, campanero, ¿duermes ya, duermes ya? Toca las campanas, toca las campanas din don dan, din don dan.” Other versions substitute “Martinillo, Martinillo” or other names for the first line. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Rosewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mr.Rosewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Rosewater)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/24 "2007-05-07T01:34:49Z")
[QUOTE=Phase42] never mind [/QUOTE] 眠っている兄弟ジョン眠ったり、であるか。兄弟ジョンか。朝の鐘は、朝の鐘鳴っている鳴っている Here ya go. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2007, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/25 "2007-05-07T01:44:55Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Rosewater] ??? Here ya go. [/QUOTE] Thanks 🙂 I don’t know what it is. Somebody else types kanji (or hangul, or Chinese) here, I can read it just fine. If I type it in myself, it appears in the text box, but when I hit “Submit Reply” all I get are question marks in my post. I’ve got my browser set for Unicode (UTF-8), so I don’t know what’s going on. I thought I had this figured out a while back. Mac discrimination, that’s what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Blisswalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Blisswalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blisswalker)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/26 "2019-04-03T00:47:15Z")
Godfrey Birtill on his album “Ring Out The Wild Bells” sings this song I believe it much better then the original version which sung by who ever is around in acapella. Have not heard this song since I was a kid early 80s late 70s till today. I never knew what the song was about but the remake of this song is really awesome you can check it out on YouTube is “Frere Jacques/ All Clear/Gas Gas Gas” I believe it does it justice ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/27 "2019-04-03T01:02:24Z")
> [@blisswalker](#): > > i believe it much better then the original version which sung by who ever is **around** in acapella. iswydt 😉 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/28 "2019-04-03T01:18:16Z")
_Bruder Johann, Bruder Johann, Schläfst Du noch? Schläfst Du noch? Morgenglocken klingen, Morgenglocken klingen! Din-din-din! Din-din-din!_ ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/29 "2019-04-03T01:20:50Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Yeah, Jacques is closer to James, or Jacob. > > And actually, the English version “morning bells are ringing” isn’t what the French version says; the French is “Sonnez les matines,” which is “Ring the bells.” It’s a command in the imperative tense. Or maybe “Sound the Matins”? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/30 "2019-04-03T01:56:59Z")
Fairy jock off, fairy jock off Gourmet poo! Gourmet poo! Sonny laid Martina Sonny laid Martina In my room In my room ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/31 "2019-04-03T02:22:36Z")
Amazingly, not the only thread we have on this topic [Frere Jaques and other names in French - Factual Questions - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=580972) ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/32 "2019-04-03T06:01:55Z")
loDnI’ jaques loDnI’ jaques Qong Qong SoH wab matins wab matins Of course it always sounds better in the original Klingon I’d go all the way and post it in Klingon pIcaD but I doubt the board software supports it. How bout it Mods? Is Klingon pIcaD amongst the fonts supported? ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/33 "2019-04-03T08:15:10Z")
I found online: دقّ الجرس, دقّّ لجرس اسمعوا, اسمعوا صوته جميلٌ, صوته جميلٌ دِن دَن دُم, دِن دَن دُم [Daqq al-jarasu](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w8XKNhxN3I), daqq al-jarasu Isma‘ū, isma‘ū Ṣawtuhu jamīlun, ṣawtuhu jamīlun Din dan dom, din dan dom Which translates as: The bell rang, the bell rang Listen, listen Its sound is beautiful, its sound is beautiful etc. But if you asked me to literally translate from the French, it would go something like: يا أخ يعقوب, تا أخ يعقوب هل تنام؟ هل تنام؟ دُقّ الصبحَ, دُقّ الصبحَ دِن دَن دُن, دِن دَن دُن Yā Akh Ya‘qūb, yā Akh Ya‘qūb Hal tanām? Hal tanām? Duqq al-ṣubḥa, duqq al-ṣubḥa Din dan don, din dan don ---
**Author:** ![JacobSwan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@JacobSwan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JacobSwan)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/34 "2019-04-03T09:30:05Z")
Just like Shakespeare, you haven’t really experienced it until you hear it in the original klingon: ``` yIvem yaq yaS! yIvem yaq yaS! bIQong’a’? bIQong’a’? pengmey DaQoybe”a’? pengmey DaQoybe”a’? bum! bum! bum! bum! bum! bum! ``` ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/35 "2019-04-03T10:24:40Z")
Just to emphasize what was said years ago in this thread Jacques = Jacob, James, Yaaqubh, Iacobus, Iacomus Jean = John (including Jack), Yohanan, Iohannes ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/36 "2019-04-03T14:32:52Z")
Obviously, “sonnez les matines” means: “The Zombies are coming!” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/37 "2019-04-03T16:28:43Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Obviously, “sonnez les matines” means: “The Zombies are coming!” Grab the shotguns Grab the shotguns Brother John, Brother John The zombies are a-coming The zombies are a-coming Brains brains brain Munch munch munch ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/38 "2019-04-03T19:48:58Z")
In other words, in the original French, the problem is that the morning bells _aren’t_ ringing, because Brother James, who’s supposed to be ringing them, is sleeping in. (and I’m almost certain that I’ve posted that before on this board, but it wasn’t in the linked thread) ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2019, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/39 "2019-04-03T20:12:32Z")
So, if we combine the French and English, the abbot has gotta be bloody pissed. First he had to go shake Br. James, because he was sleeping, and now that he’s finally gotten him moving, he needs to go kick Br. John, because he’s ignoring the (now late) bells announcing morning prayer. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2019, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869/40 "2019-04-07T07:52:55Z")
I admire how you’ve wrapped up a complete saga out of these, **Kamino Neko**. Clever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-frere-jacques-mean/402869.md?page=3)