Learn French With Zaho with these 17 Song Recommendations (Full Translations Included!)

Zaho
LF Content Team | Updated on 2 February 2023
Learning French with Zaho's music is fun, engaging, and includes a cultural aspect that is often missing from other language learning methods. It is also great way to supplement your learning and stay motivated to keep learning French!
Below are 17 song recommendations by Zaho to get you started! Alongside each recommendation, you will find a snippet of the lyric translations with links to the full lyric translations and lessons for each of the songs!
CONTENTS SUMMARY
Je T'aime À L'algérienne (I Love You Algerian Style)
Y a des peines qu'on n'peut écrire
Des mots qu'on sait pas dire
J'essaie mais je t'aime en silence
Par pudeur
There are pains that we can't write
Words we don't know how to say
I try but I love you in silence
Out of modesty

Imagine loving someone so fiercely that the words get trapped behind pride and tradition. That is the heartbeat of Zaho’s "Je T'aime À L'algérienne." The Algerian-Canadian singer paints a picture of silent devotion: her heart aches, time slips away, yet she never lets the phrase "je t’aime" leave her lips. Instead, she shows a uniquely Algerian way of loving – guarded, dignified, and proven through actions rather than declarations. Even when loneliness burns and nothing, not even “l’ivresse,” can numb the pain, she chooses to navigate against the current, refusing to call or plead for help.

Why does she stay silent? The lyrics reveal two powerful forces at play:

  • Pudeur (modesty) – cultural reserve keeps her from blurting out her feelings.
  • Fierté (pride) – she would “make war” for her lover but will not cry out “au secours.”

By repeating “Je t’aime… sans te dire je t’aime,” Zaho turns withheld words into a chorus, reminding us that love is sometimes loudest in its quiet moments. The song is both a confession and a cultural snapshot, showing how Algerian love can be fiery, loyal, and unspoken all at once.

Solo
Jalé, jalé, jalé boubou
Jalé, jalé, jalé boubou
Hey, hey
Il faut que t'arrêtes d'apparaître
Jalé, jalé, jalé boubou
Jalé, jalé, jalé boubou
Hey, hey
You need to stop appearing

Solo is a bittersweet R&B confession in which Algerian-born singer Zaho and French-Cameroonian crooner Tayc revisit a love that has drifted into painful territory. All those hypnotic “Jalé, jalé” chants set the mood of a restless night where an ex keeps turning up in dreams, even though “rien n'est plus pareil.” The verses list the heart’s aches one after another: headaches, sleeplessness, the weight of memories, and the frustration of feeling like only one person is carrying the relationship.

Yet the hook, endlessly repeating “Je finirai solo,” flips the song into a declaration of freedom. If honesty and balance cannot be restored, the singer would rather end up alone than keep circling a toxic cycle of blame and hurt. In two voices, Zaho and Tayc capture that decisive moment when longing gives way to self-respect, turning heartbreak into an anthem of empowerment for anyone choosing solitude over suffering.

Dior & Zawaj
Elle a fait pleurer sa mère
Elle veut Dior et Zawaj
Au passé, on pardonne
Dellali, c'est toi la bonne
She made her mother cry
She wants Dior and Zawaj
In the past, we forgive
Dellali, you're the right one

“Dior & Zawaj” blends modern luxury with timeless tradition. Zaho and Youv paint the picture of a young woman who wants both a designer lifestyle (Dior, Cartier) and the promise of marriage (zawaj in Arabic). The male voice answers her wishes by hustling for the dowry, tallying wages, and preparing to meet her parents, all while celebrating her strength and independence. The lyrics dance between French street slang and North-African Arabic, showing how today’s couples juggle family expectations, cultural customs, and the allure of high fashion.

Beneath the playful brand-name drops lies a sincere love story: choosing the right partner, honoring parents, and believing that commitment can sparkle brighter than any diamond. In short, it is a catchy anthem about working hard for love, respecting tradition, and dreaming big—wrapped in a beat that makes you want to move.

Comme Tous Les Soirs (Like Every Night)
Mon amour, mon amour
Rappelle-toi nos souvenirs
On était libre, on était libre
On avait toute la vie
My love, my love
Remember our memories
We were free, we were free
We had our whole lives

In “Comme Tous Les Soirs” Zaho rewinds the tape of a love story that used to feel limitless. She sings to her partner like someone leafing through an old photo album: “Mon amour… rappelle-toi nos souvenirs / On était libre.” The nights were once filled with laughter and the certainty that one hug could fix anything. Now the same nights stretch out, heavy with silence, as two hearts that no longer beat in sync try to pretend nothing has changed.

Instead of pointing fingers, Zaho admits that both lovers share the blame. The chorus – repeating “comme tous les soirs” – becomes a bittersweet mantra, reminding us how routine can turn magic into melancholy. By the end, she proposes liberation: tear off the “invisible chains,” speak the truth, and, if necessary, say goodbye. It is a soulful snapshot of a relationship caught between nostalgia and the courageous choice to let go.

Toi Et Moi (You And Me)
Raconte-moi
C'est vrai ou pas?
Notre histoire est finie
Bébé, à cause de moi
Tell me
Is it true or not?
Our story is over
Baby, because of me

Toi et Moi is a bilingual love duet where Algerian-Canadian star Zaho and folk-pop crooner Mok Saib trade verses filled with regret, rumor, and relentless hope. The singers look back at a relationship that seems to have crashed because of outside whispers and personal mistakes. From the very first line — “Raconte-moi, c’est vrai ou pas?” — they question whether their story has truly ended. French lines melt into Algerian Arabic expressions like “3omri” (my life) and “Mazal l’amour m3a nti” (our love is still alive), creating a heartfelt bilingual plea: Don’t blame me, don’t believe the gossip, let’s run away together and start over.

Behind the catchy guitar licks and laid-back groove lies a tug-of-war between heartbreak and hope. Both voices admit their faults, confess sleepless nights, and vividly remember how the other filled the emptiness in their lives. Yet every chorus circles back to the same dream: “Que toi et moi on s’barre de là” — just you and me, escaping it all. It is a song for anyone who has ever believed that love deserves one more chance, even when the world says it is finished.

Laissez-les Kouma (Leave Them Kouma)
Laissez-les kouma
Il ou elle a dit les nouvelles ne sont pas bonnes
Je ne le dirais qu'à toi, ne l'dis à personne
Il ou elle a fait je crois qu'il y a eu maldonne
Let them be like that
He or she said the news is not good
I will only tell you, don't tell anyone
He or she did, I think there was a misunderstanding

Rumors buzzing in the hallway? Ears ringing from all that chatter? In “Laissez-les Kouma,” Algerian-born singer Zaho joins afro-trap star MHD to fire back at the gossip mill with a smile. The Lingala-inspired title means “let them talk,” and that is exactly the duo’s message: spill your stories, exaggerate the drama, invent whatever you like—we will be over here enjoying the good vibes. References to “bruits de couloir” (hallway whispers), a “carton rouge” (red card) and tomorrow’s collective amnesia paint a lively picture of rumors that spread fast and fade even faster.

Instead of wasting breath clearing their names, Zaho and MHD choose celebration over confrontation. They call out myth-makers who “know nada” about their lives, shrug off jealousy, and focus on having fun: “L’ambiance est validée, le terrain balisé”—the party is set, the mood is right. The song’s bouncing beat and catchy hook turn this anti-gossip anthem into a dance-floor invitation: ignore the noise, live your life, and let the talkers talk while you keep moving forward.

Allô (Hello)
J'aurais dû tout tenter
Tout rater et finir menottée
J'aurais pu me planter
Partir avec un sac à dos, OK
I should have tried everything
Failing everything and ending up handcuffed
I could have messed up
Go with a backpack, OK

Pick up the phone—‘Allô’! Zaho’s call rings out like an electric jolt, inviting us into the diary of a fearless dream-chaser. Guitar in hand and a Bob Marley T-shirt on her back, she bolts from Algiers toward the unknown, confessing that she could have failed, crashed, or even ended up “menottée” (in handcuffs). Instead, luck knocks and she answers with urgency, vowing to make noise “comme les ambulances” before her time runs out. Every “Allô?” is both a question and a rallying cry: Can you hear me while I chase the world in real time?

Beneath the upbeat rhythm lies the solitude of exile. Zaho’s new skyline of neon lights and skyscrapers watches her bloom, wilt, and bloom again. Tides rise and fall, doubts whisper, yet she keeps sprinting, accepting that her fate flips between heads and tails. Whether her dreams sink “à l’eau” or shoot across the sky like a comet, she owns the journey—en solo. The song is a vibrant mix of courage, homesickness, and relentless ambition that urges listeners to answer their own inner call and keep moving, no matter how far from home they roam.

Tant De Choses (So Many Things)
Y a tant de choses
Qu'on n's'est pas dites
Tant de choses
Qu'on n'sait pas dire
There are so many things
That we haven't said
So many things
That we don't know how to say

Tant De Choses is Zaho’s bittersweet confession about all the words that got stuck in her throat. The Algerian-born singer paints the picture of two people who were so close to understanding each other, yet let silence stretch the distance. Every chorus circles back to the same haunting thought: there are countless things we never said, cannot say, or still hope to live together. With a catchy, mid-tempo groove, she juxtaposes lively rhythms with lyrics full of hesitation, regret, and heartache.

As the song unfolds, Zaho rewinds the tape of a relationship—flashing through photos on the wall, memories of shared laughter, then the chill of separation. She admits she held back out of fear or misplaced politeness and wonders if the other person hurts as deeply so far, so far away. The repeated refrain becomes both a lament and a lesson: unsaid words hurt the most. In the end, the track urges listeners to speak their truth before time turns chances into regrets.

Ma Lune (My Moon)
Je t'ai cherché, je visais la lune
Tu m'as connue le coeur dans la brume
Quand l'amour a déserté mon île
J'ai écrit entre le marteau et l'enclume
I looked for you, I aimed for the moon
You knew me with a heart in the mist
When love deserted my island
I wrote between the hammer and the anvil

“Ma Lune” is Zaho’s heartfelt love letter to the person who keeps her orbit steady. She looks back on a childhood without riches, an exile far from her native Algeria, and the lonely glare of fame. Through all the chaos — the “douilles et les mines,” the critics’ stares, and the bruises of the heart — one constant light guides her: ma lune, her moon. This moon is lover, muse, and guardian rolled into one, inspiring the gold of her records and the words of her pen, giving her courage to face the mirror and see more than a lost child.

The song widens from an intimate confession to a universal wink at every listener. Zaho reminds us that chacun sa lune — everyone has their own guiding light, that special someone (or something) bright enough to illuminate cracked sidewalks and soothe old wounds. With atmospheric melodies and tender French-Arabic imagery, “Ma Lune” glows as an anthem of resilience, gratitude, and the quiet power of love that keeps us all from drifting into darkness.

Doucement (Gently)
Je préfère aller doucement
Mon coeur est une épreuve
Tu veux sauter les étapes
J'préfère aller doucement
I prefer to take it slow
My heart is a test
You want to skip steps
I prefer to take it slow

“Doucement” finds Algerian singer Zaho opening the door to love, but only just a crack. With vivid images of shipwrecks, burning fires and starry promises, she tells a would-be lover, “Slow down.” Her heart has been battered by past storms, so every new step feels like an obstacle course. Rather than leap straight into grand declarations, she prefers a careful pace, choosing a steady flame over a fleeting spark and honesty over fairy-tale weekends in paradise.

The song is a gentle manifesto of self-protection and patience. Zaho admits that love can feel like a sickness, yet she believes the right person can help her heal - if they give her time. She wants laughter at sunrise, not quick fixes or band-aid affection. In return, she promises that the long wait will be worth it: when she finally says “I love you,” the words will carry the weight of true recovery and lasting devotion.

On S'fait Du Mal (We Hurt Each Other)
J'ai plus ma place
Tu comprends pas comme toujours
Faut que tu t'y fasses
C'est un aller sans retour
I no longer have my place
You don't understand as always
You have to get used to it
It's a one-way ticket

Zaho and Dadju turn a troubled love story into a dramatic duet where every line feels like a confession. On S'fait Du Mal (“We Hurt Each Other”) captures the push-and-pull of two people who still care but seem doomed to repeat the same mistakes. Each singer admits the passion is real, yet the relationship has become a one-way trip with “no return.” Between references to storms, fading hearts, and Hollywood-style highs, they show how easy it is to hide behind pride while silently begging the other to listen.

Beneath the catchy Afropop beat, the song is a plea for honesty. Both voices wrestle with indifference, regret, and the fear of starting over. They question whether they should walk away or rewrite their story before time runs out. The repeated hook “On s’fait du mal” is not just a lament, it is a mirror held up to anyone who has ever loved hard enough to get hurt. By the final chorus, the message is clear: love can heal, but only if you stop pretending everything is fine and face the pain together.

Oh Mama
mama je ne vois que toi
J'ai perdu le sens de la fête
mama je n'entends que toi
Me répéter sans cesse
mama, I only see you
I've lost the sense of celebration
mama, I only hear you
Repeating to me endlessly

Packed with urban rhythms and a catchy hook, "Oh Mama" is Zaho’s heartfelt shout-out to the unbreakable bond she shares with her mother. The Algerian singer opens up about nights when she loses “le sens de la fête,” hearing only her mom’s voice echoing in her mind. From feeling stuck in her own “failles” to binge-watching life like a Netflix biopic, Zaho admits she sometimes spirals, yet that inner voice from Mama keeps pulling her back. The song paints vivid snapshots of struggle: juggling bills, absorbing emotional blows, facing fake friends, and watching dreams wobble. Through it all, she clings to her mother’s lessons of bamboo-like flexibility—bend, do not break—and to her father’s sacrifices that paved a brighter path.

Ultimately, "Oh Mama" is an anthem of résilience: choosing love when the heart is shattered, rewriting your destiny when the odds feel set in stone, and reaching the summit even when you start “plus bas que terre.” Zaho celebrates small victories—a brother who becomes a doctor, the calm she feels when she gazes at her son—and invites listeners to believe in their own bounce-back power. It’s an empowering reminder that no matter where you were born or how rough the climb, a parent’s unwavering faith can light the way forward.

Dors Morgane Dors
Dors Morgane, dors
En cette nuit de Samain, dors
Rêve, Morgane rêve
Souviens-toi de ce soir maudit, et rêve
Sleep Morgane, sleep
On this Samhain night, sleep
Dream, Morgane dream
Remember this cursed night, and dream

Dors Morgane Dors unfolds like a haunted lullaby. Over the backdrop of Samhain—the Celtic night when the veil between worlds thins—Zaho sings to little Morgane, inviting her to drift into dreams while shadows grow restless. The lyrics paint a cinematic scene: a warrior father supposedly returns, armor clinking in the dark, and a mother rushes to celebrate his victory. Yet the child senses a chilling twist. As the helmet comes off, the familiar face is revealed to be a mask. Morgane tries to warn her mother, but terror steals her voice, trapping her in a silent nightmare.

Beyond its spooky storytelling, the song explores deeper themes of lost innocence, the unsettling feeling that those we trust can suddenly become strangers, and the helplessness of watching danger unfold without being able to intervene. Equal parts fairy-tale and psychological thriller, Zaho’s track reminds listeners that fear is often born not from monsters, but from the unsettling changes in the people we love.

Jardin D'Éden (Garden Of Eden)
Je te jure
Le monde est injustice
Et ses couleurs blêmes
Je veux fuir mais
I swear to you
The world is unfair
And its pale colors
I want to escape but

Welcome to Zaho’s bittersweet "Jardin d’Éden" – a song that turns the idea of an earthly paradise on its head. Instead of blooming roses, we find a love that wilts in the shade of disappointment. The narrator admits that the world already feels unfair and colorless, yet being away from her partner steals her oxygen even more. She has chased this love to the ends of the earth, but now there is a wall between her rêves (dreams) and his poèmes (poems). Her refrain "C’est plus la peine" (“It’s no longer worth it”) echoes like a painful mantra, showing how unreturned affection drains her hope.

In vivid images, Zaho reveals a fragile heart of porcelain hiding behind a confident exterior. She compares her efforts to pull the sword Excalibur – an epic attempt to make him finally say je t’aime, yet the miracle never happens. Eden, symbol of perfect love and harmony, simply “does not exist” for them. The result is a raw confession: she loves him deeply while he loves her à peine (barely). Listeners are invited into a garden of yearning where vulnerability meets courage, and where walking away becomes the only way to survive.

En Bas D'chez Moi, Naps (Below My House, Naps)
OK
C'est Zaho
Et le N en bas d'chez moi
On garde le mental, même à terre
OK
It's Zaho
And the N below my house
We keep our minds, even on the ground

En Bas D’chez Moi feels like an open-air block party where Zaho and Naps invite us to hang out at the foot of their apartment building. Over a bouncy beat they paint a picture of everyday life in their neighborhood: kids in strollers, friends lounging around a hookah, speakers blasting, and the scent of street-cart nougatine. It might look rough from the outside, yet the residents carry a mental of steel, never forget their roots, and lift each other up even when money is tight.

The chorus repeats that “difference is not a problem” because this corner of Marseille-meets-Algeria runs on loyalty and heart. Zaho and Naps celebrate a melting pot where Arabic slang mingles with French, where dreams of diamond records sit next to late-night hustles, and where success is shared with the whole crew. The result is an anthem of pride, resilience, and unity that turns an ordinary street into a place where everyone can feel bien.

Tourner La Page (Turn The Page)
J'ai vu sur ma route plein de paysages
Avec des mots je peins des images
Sortie de ma cage, monté d'un étage
Aujourd'hui je plane dans les nuages
I saw on my journey many landscapes
With words, I paint images
Out of my cage, climbed a floor
Today I soar in the clouds

In Tourner La Page Algerian-Canadian artist Zaho pictures herself as a traveler with a notebook, painting landscapes with words while trying to leave heavy memories behind. Every verse blends images of flight — "free like a seagull," "floating in the clouds" — with the ache of unfinished chapters. She admits it is "not so easy to turn the page," yet she keeps writing, singing and chasing the next "wave" that might wash away regret.

The song feels like an encouraging letter to anyone who feels stuck in yesterday. Zaho lets "life carry her" and urges listeners to do the same, turning sorrow into art and movement. Her message is clear: courage is found in motion, gratitude in community, and freedom in accepting that the road ahead is unknown but full of new pages ready to be written.

Je Te Promets (I Promise You)
T'aimerais que je te dise que j't'aimerai toute ma vie
T'aimerais que j'te promette toutes mes nuits jusqu'à l'infini
T'aimerais que je te suive à jamais sans faire de bruit
Et que je comprenne tout ceci sans que tu le dises
You would like me to tell you that I will love you all my life
You would like me to promise you all my nights until infinity
You would like me to follow you forever without making any noise
And that I understand all this without you saying it

Zaho’s “Je Te Promets” turns the classic love promise upside down. Instead of vowing forever and ever, the Algerian-born singer gives us a dose of honest romance. Her partner dreams of eternal nights and silent devotion, but Zaho answers with sincerity: "I can’t say what I don’t know, I can’t give what I don’t have." What she can offer is something far more realistic and exciting—a fresh start where both lovers learn, grow, and move forward together.

Through vivid images—wishing on a billion daytime stars, hiding beneath her lover’s eyelids, smashing blinding lights—Zaho paints the push-and-pull of desire and limitation. The song celebrates authentic love: daring to admit imperfections, yet refusing to give up. Her only true promise is a “nouveau départ,” a new beginning that feels both hopeful and refreshingly grounded.

We have more songs with translations on our website and mobile app. You can find the links to the website and our mobile app below. We hope you enjoy learning French with music!