Chad Gadya
Chad Gadya is written in Aramaic and has been translated into most Jewish languages. It is a cumulative song that traces the fate of the young goat that was purchased by 'my father' for two coins. The Jewish Music Research Centre at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem traces the history of Chad Gadya and includes examples from various Jewish traditions. The Jewish Chronicle examines the possible metaphorical meaning of the song. Several samples are included on this page. For more examples in these and other languages, click on the buttons below.
Chad Gadya in Hebrew
Chad Gadya
in Hebrew, Transliteration, and English
One little goat
Then came the Holy One, Blessed be He
and smote the angel of death,
who slew the slaughterer,
who killed the ox, that drank the water,
that extinguished the fire, that burned the stick,
that beat the dog, that bit the cat, that ate the goat,
Which my father bought for two zuzim.
One little goat, one little goat
Chad gadya
V’ata Hakodesh Baruch Hu
v’shachat l’malach hamavet,
d’shachat l’shocheit,
d’shachat l’tora, d’shata l’maya,
d’chava l’nura, d’saraf l’chutra,
d’hikah l’chalba, d’nashach l’shunrah,
d’achlah l’gadya,
d’zabin aba bitrei zuzei,
chad gadya, chad gadya.
חַד גַדְיָא
וְאָתָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא
וְשָׁחַט לְמַלְאַךְ הַמָּוֶת, דְּשָׁחַט לְשׁוֹחֵט
דְּשָׁחַט לְתוֹרָא, דְּשָׁתָה לְמַיָּא
דְּכָבָה לְנוּרָא, דְּשָׂרַף לְחוּטְרָא
דְּהִכָּה לְכַלְבָּא, דְּנָשַׁךְ לְשׁוּנְרָא, דְּאָכְלָה לְגַּדְיָא
דְּזַבִּין אַבָּא בִּתְרֵי זוּזֵי
חַד גַּדְיָא, חַד גַּדְיָא
Judeo-Greek
Excerpts from a Passover seder from Ioannina, Greece, performed by Anna Rafael in 1970. 22:50–25:07: חד גדיא Ένα κατσίκι [ˈena kaˈt͡siki], in Hebrew and Judeo-Greek.
The Open Siddur Project includes the text and translation of Chad Gadya into Judeo-Greek. Below is the final verse in Hebrew script, transliteration, and English translation.
Yiddish
Chad Gadya in Yiddish
Di Tsigele (Chad Gadya in Yiddish), performed by Pam Singer
Di Tsigele, performed by Book of J
Chad Gadya in Yiddish
Pam Singer’s version of Khad-gadyo from this website:
A mayse mit a tsigele,
hert oys ovois-uvonim
Der foter hot batsolt far ir
tsvey gildn mezumonim.
Di umshildike tsigele
zi shpringt arum in hoyz.
Plutsem kumt a beyze kats,
un khapt un frest es oyf.
Di tsigele, di tsigele, hert oys ovis-uvonim.
Der foter hot batsolt far it tsvey gildn
mezumonim.
Khad-gad-yo, khad-gad-yo.
Der hunt hot faynt gehat di kats
dos treft zikh al-pi-rov.
Er klert nit lang un khapt ir on
un makht fun ir a sof.
Der hunt iz dokh dem shtekn vert,
er iz dokh beyz un shlekht.
Der shtekn git im klep vi bob
un meynt er iz gerekht.
Di tsigele, di tsigele, hert oys ovois-uvonim
Der foter hot batsolt far ir
tsvey gildn mezumonim.
Khad-gad-yo, khad-gad-yo.
Translation:
A tale with a little kid (young goat)
listen up fathers and sons.
The father paid for it
two guilden cash.
The innocent kid,
she jumps around the house.
Suddenly a mean cat comes
and catches it and eats it up.
The kid, the kid, listen up fathers and sons.
The father paid for it two guilden cash.
Khad-gad yo, khad gad yo.
The dog hated the cat,
as happens most of the time,
He doesn’t think long and catches it
and puts an end to her.
The dog deserves the rod,
since he is so mean and bad.
The stick strikes him as beans,
and thinks that he is in the right.
The kid, the kid, listen up fathers and sons.
The father paid for it two guilden cash.
Khad-gad yo, khad gad yo.
Haggadah from Altona, Germany, 1766. Chad Gadya with Yiddish translation.
Haggadah from Moravia, 1732. Chad Gadya with Yiddish translation.
The Open Siddur Project includes the text and translation of Chad Gadya into Yiddish. Below is the final verse in Aramaic script, Yiddish translation and transliteration, and English translation.
Ladino
This article from the Stroum Center for Jewish Studies at the University of Washington discusses the question of when Chad Gadya came to be sung in Ladino at Sephardic seders.
The Open Siddur Project includes the text and translation of Chad Gadya into Judezmo/Ladino/Judeo-Spanish. Below is the final verse in Hebrew script, Ladino transliteration, and English translation.
Chad Gadya in Ladino/Judeo-Spanish from Greece
Chad Gadya in Ladino/Judeo-Spanish from Turkey, performed by Chloe Pourmorady and Asher Shasho Levy
Ladino lyrics, in Latin-lettered transliteration, of Un Kavretiko in a Haggadah published in Salonica, 1955. (Courtesy of Deb Henigson, Mountain View, CA from haggadot.com)
I vino el Santo Bendicho El, i degoyo al malah amavet, ke degoyo al shohet, ke degoyo al buey, ke se bevyo la agua, ke amato el fuego, ke kemo el palo, ke aharvo el perro, ke modryo el gato, ke se komio el kavritiko, ke lo merko mi padre, por dos levanim.
Chad Gadya (Uno Kavrethiko) sung by Liz Barak
Chad Gadya in Ladino at 2:33, 5:19, and 6:20 from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
A Sephardic family sings the Rhodes version of Uno Kavretiko
More Ladino versions of Chad Gadya from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Un kavretiko sung in Ladino by Yehoram Gaon
Chad Gadya sung in Ladino and Yiddish
Un kavretiko sung in Ladino by Hazzan Isaac Azose
Judeo-Italian
Examples from Judeo-Italian, Judeo-Piedmontese, and Judeo-Provencal, courtesy of George Jochnowitz.
Chad Gadya from Rome
Chad Gadya from Venice
Chad Gadya in Judeo-Italian
Chad Gadya lyrics in Judeo-Piedmontese
Chad Gadya in Judeo-Italian, from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Chad Gadya sung in Judeo-Piedmontese, from the Jarah family
Judeo-Provençal
Final verse:
Es vengu lou Cadoch barourhou
Qu'avé chorhéta lou malarhama
Qu'avé chorhéta lou chorhet
Qu'avé chorhéta lou biou
Qu'avé bégu toute l'aïgue
Qu'avé moussa lou fiou
Qu'avé brula la vergue
Qu'avé pica lou tchin
Qu'avé mourdu lou ca
Qu'avé mandja lou cabri
Qu'avé 'tchéta moun païre un escu, dous escu,
Qu'avé 'tchéta moun païre un escu, dous escu,
Rhaz gadeïa, rhaz gadeïa.
Then came the Holy One blessed be He
who slaughtered the angel of death
who slaughtered the slaughterer
who slaughtered the ox
that drank all the water
that put out the fire
that burnt the stick
that beat the dog
that bit the cat
that ate the goat
that my father bought for one crown, two crowns,
that my father bought for one crown, two crowns,
one goat, one goat.
--Provided by Peter Nahon
Recording of Chad Gadya in Judeo-Provencal sung by Eliane Amado Levi-Valensi around 1972. Her family was from Salonica, but her husband was Max Amado, whose mother was a Bédarride from Carpentras. Provided by Peter Nahon.
Chad Gadya in Judeo-Provencal (Shuadit), as sung by a speaker of the language.
Judeo-Arabic
Chad Gadya in Aleppo Syrian Judeo-Arabic, performed by Chloe Pourmorady and Asher Shasho Levy
Chad Gadya in Damascus Syrian Judeo-Arabic
from Sha'ar Binyamin in Mexico
Nathan Cohen, Chad Gadya in Tunisian Judeo-Arabic
The Judeo-Arabic version of Had Gadya included in Shelomo Belforte’s Haggadah published in Livrono for the Jews in Baghdad, 1935. From haggadot.com
Chad Gadya in the Judeo-Arabic of Damascus
Text and transliteration courtesy of Asher Shasho Levy
Waḥad jidi waḥad jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
Wa-ijet il iṭa, wa-aklet il jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
Wa-ija il kaleb, wa-'ad il iṭa, illaḍi aklet il jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
Wa-ijet il 'aṣaye, wa-darbet il kaleb, illaḍi 'ad il iṭa, illaḍi aklet il jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
Wa-ijet i-nar, wa ḥaret il 'aṣaye, illaḍi darbet il kaleb, illaḍi 'ad il iṭa, illaḍi aklet il jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
Wa-ijet il maye, wa-ṭafet i-nar, illaḍi ḥaret il 'aṣaye, illaḍi darbet il kaleb, illaḍi 'ad il iṭa, illaḍi aklet il jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
Wa-ijat i-tor, wa-shireb il maye, illaḍi ṭafet i-nar, illaḍi ḥaret il 'aṣaye, illaḍi darbet il kaleb, illaḍi 'ad il iṭa, illaḍi aklet il jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
Wa-ija i-dabaḥ, wadabaḥ i-tor, illaḍi shireb il maye, illaḍi ṭafet i-nar, illaḍi ḥaret il 'aṣaye, illaḍi darbet il kaleb, illaḍi 'ad il iṭa, illaḍi aklet il jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
Wa-ija malak ilmot wa-akhad rouḥ i-dabaḥ, illaḍi dabaḥ i-tor, illaḍi shireb il maye, illaḍi ṭafet i-nar, illaḍi ḥaret il 'aṣaye, illaḍi darbet il kaleb, illaḍi 'ad il iṭa, illaḍi aklet il jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
Wa-ija ilmuqadas mubarak hu, wa-akhad malak ilmot, illaḍi akhad rouḥ i-dabaḥ, illaḍi dabaḥ i-tor, illaḍi shireb il maye, illaḍi ṭafet i-nar, illaḍi ḥaret il 'aṣaye, illaḍi darbet il kaleb, illaḍi 'ad il iṭa, illaḍi aklet il jidi, illaḍi shtara li abi bimaṣariten, waḥad jidi waḥad jidi
וַאחַד גִ'ידִי
מסורת יהודי דמשק
וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי, אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי
וַא-אִיגֵ'ת אִל אִטַּה, וַא-אַכּלֵת אִל גִ'ידִי, אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי.
וַא-אִיגַ'ה אִל כַּלְבּ, וַא-עַדּ אִל
אִטַּה, אִלַדִ’י אַכּלֵת אִל גִ'ידִי, אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי
וַא-אִיגֵ'ת אִל עַצַאיֵה, וַא-דַרבֵּת אִל כַּלְבּ, אִלַדִ’י עַדּ אִל אִטַּה, אִלַדִ’י אַכּלֵת אִל גִ'ידִי, אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד
גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי
וַא-אִיגֵ'ת אִי- נַנאר, וַא חַרְאֵת אִל עַצַאיֵה, אִלַדִ’י דַרְבֵּת אִל כַּלְבּ, אִלַדִ’י עַדּ אִל אִטַּה, אִלַדִ’י אַכּלֵת אִל גִ'ידִי, אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי
וַא-אִיגֵ'ת אִל–מַיֶה, וַא-טַפֵת אִי-ננַאר, אִלַדִ’י חַרְאֵת אִל עַצַאיֵה, אִלַדִ’י דַרְבֵּת אִל כַּלְבּ, אִלַדִ’י עַדּ אִל אִטַּה, אִלַדִ’י אַכּלֵת אִל גִ'ידִי,
אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי
וַא-אִיגַ'ה אִי-תּוֹר, וַא-שִׁירֵבּ אִל–מַיֶה, אִלַדִ’י טַפֵת אִי- נַּאר, אִלַדִ’י חַרְאֵת אִל עַצַאיֵה, אִלַדִ’י דַרְבֵּת אִל כַּלְבּ, אִלַדִ’י עַדּ אִל אִטַּה, אִלַדִ’י אַכּלֵת אִל גִ'ידִי, אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי.
וַא-אִיגַ'ה אִי-דַּבַּאח, ודַבַּח אִי-תּוֹר, אִלַדִ’י שִׁירֵבּ אִל–מַיֶה, אִלַדִ’י טַפֵת אִי- נַּאר, אִלַדִ’י חַרְאֵת אִל עַצַאיֵה, אִלַדִ’י דַרְבֵּת אִל כַּלְבּ, אִלַדִ’י עַדּ אִל אִטַּה, אִלַדִ’י אַכּלֵת אִל גִ'ידִי, אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי.
וַא-אִיגַ'ה מַלַאכּ אִלְמוֹת, וַא-אַכַד רוּח אִי-דַבַּאח, אִלַדִ’י דַבַח אִי-תּוֹר, אִלַדִ’י שִׁירֵבּ אִל–מַיֶה, אִלַדִ’י טַפֵת אִי- נַּאר, אִלַדִ’י חַרְאֵת אִל עַצַאיֵה, אִלַדִ’י דַרְבֵּת אִל כַּלְבּ, אִלַדִ’י עַדּ אִל אִטַּה, אִלַדִ’י אַכּלֵת אִל גִ'ידִי, אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי.
וַא-אִיגַ'ה אלְמֻקָדַס מֻבַּרארַכּ הוּא, וַא-אַכַד מַלַאכּ אִלְמוֹת, אִלַדִ’י אַכַד רוּח אִי-דַבַּאח, אִלַדִ’י דַבַח אִי-תּוֹר, אִלַדִ’י שִׁירֵבּ אִל–מַיֶה, אִלַדִ’י טַפֵת אִי- נַּאר, אִלַדִ’י חַרְאֵת אִל עַצַאיֵה, אִלַדִ’י דַרְבֵּת אִל כַּלְבּ, אִלַדִ’י עַדּ אִל אִטַּה, אִלַדִ’י אַכּלֵת אִל גִ'ידִי, אִלַדִ’י שׁתַרַה לִי אַבִּי בִמַצַרִיתֵין. וַאחַד גִ'ידִי וַאחַד גִ'ידִי
Chad Gadya in the Judeo-Arabic of Iraq
Based on the transcription found at the Open Siddur Project, edited by Asher Shasho Levy
One little goat, one little goat…
Then the blessed Holy One came and slaughtered the Angel of Death who slaughtered the shoḥet who slaughtered the ox that drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that bit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim. One little goat, one little goat.
wa-jaaʾa ʾAL-MUQQADAS TABAARAK HU wa-ḏabaḥa li-malak ʾal-mawt allaḏii ḏabaḥa lel-ḏibaaḥ allaḏii ḏabaḥa lel-ṯawr allaḏii šariba lel-maaʾ allaḏii ṭafa len-nuur allaḏii ḥarraqa lel-ʿaṣaa allaḏii ḍarabat lel-kalb allaḏii ʿaḍḍa lel-bizzuuna allaḏii akalat lel-jady allaḏii ištarali abuyi fi ʿabbastayn waaḥad jidy waaḥad jidy
וגׄא אלמקדס תברךּ הוא ודׄבח למלך אל מות אלדׄי דׄבח לל דׄבאח אלדׄי דׄבח לל תׄור אלדׄי שרב לל מאי אלדׄי טפא לל נאר אלדׄי חרק לל עצא אלדׄי צׄרבת לל כלב אלדׄי עץׄ לל בזונה אלדׄי אכלת לל גׄדי אלדׄי אשתראלי אבויי פי עבסתין ואחד גׄדי ואחד גׄדי
Bukharian / Judeo-Tajik
The Open Siddur Project includes the text and translation of Chad Gadya into Judeo-Tajik. Below is the final verse in Hebrew script, transliteration, and English translation.
Then the blessed Holy One came and slaughtered the Angel of Death who slaughtered the shoḥet who slaughtered the ox that drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that bit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim, for two zuzim.
Ve biyomad ha-Qodösh Borukh Hu ve bikhusht be malakh ha-movet, onchi bikhusht be shöhet, onchi zobeh khord be on gov, onchi binöshid be ob, onchi khomösh khard be otash, onchi bisözond be aso, onchi bizad be on sag, onchi bigozid be pishok, onchi bikhörd be buzghola, onchi bikharid padar be du tanga. Jon buzghola, jon buzghola.
וְבִּיאָמַד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְבִּיכוּשְׁת בְּמַלְאַךְ הַמָוֶת אָנְגִ׳י בִּיכוּשְׁת בְּשׁוֹחֵט, אָנְגִ׳י זַבְּח כַרְד בְּאָן גָּאו, אָנְגִ׳י בִּינוֹשִׁיד בְּאָבּ, אָנְגִ׳י כָאמוֹשׁ כַרְד בְּאָתַשׁ, אָנְגִ׳י בִּיסוֹזָנד בְּעַצָא, אָנְגִ׳י בִּיזַר בְּאָן סַגּ, אָנְגִ׳י בִּיגַּזִיד בְּפִּישַׁךּ, אָנְגִ׳י בִּכוֹרְד בְּבּוּזְגָאלַה, אָנְגִ׳י בִּיכַרִיד פַּדַר בְּדוּ תַנְגַּה. גָׄאן בּוּזְגָאלַה גָׄאן בּוּזְגָאלַה.
Chad Gadya in Bukharian/Judeo-Tajik (Jon buzghole), performed by Chloe Pourmorady and Asher Shasho Levy
Chad Gadya, Bukharian version
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Last three verses of Jon Buzghole / Jon Buzghola, from Ḥukat haPesaḥ by Shimshon bar Pesach m'Osteropoli, Shimon Ben Eliyahu Hakham, 1904, Jerusalem.
From Ezra Malakov, Musical Treasures of the Bukharian Jewish Community. Tel Aviv, USA: World Bukahrian Jewish Congress, 2007.
Judeo-Georgian
Who Knows One and Chad Gadya in Judeo-Georgian
Chad Gadya in Judeo-Georgian
Open Siddur Project text, transliteration, and translation of Chad Gadya, courtesy of Tamari Lomtadze and Reuven Enoch
ერთი თიკანი
ერთი თიკანი, ერთი თიკანი
რომ იყიდა მამაჩემმა ორ
აბაზად, ერთი თიკანი, ერთი
თიკანი!
და მოვიდა კატა და შეჭამა
თიკანი, რომ იყიდა მამაჩემმა
ორ აბაზად, ერთი თიკანი, ერთი
თიკანი!
და მოვიდა ძაღლი და უკბინა
კატას, რომ შეჭამა თიკანი,
რომ იყიდა მამაჩემმა ორ
აბაზად, ერთი თიკანი, ერთი
თიკანი!
და მოვიდა ჯოხი და ცემა
ძაღლი, რომ უკბინა კატას,
რომ შეჭამა თიკანი, რომ იყიდა
მამაჩემმა ორ აბაზად, ერთი
თიკანი, ერთი თიკანი!
და მოვიდა ცეცხლი და დაწვა
ჯოხი, რომ ცემა ძაღლი, რომ
უკბინა კატას, რომ შეჭამა
თიკანი, რომ იყიდა მამაჩემმა
ორ აბაზად, ერთი თიკანი, ერთი
თიკანი!
და მოვიდა წყალი და ჩააქრო
ცეცხლი, რომ დაწვა ჯოხი,
რომ ცემა ძაღლი, რომ უკბინა
კატას, რომ შეჭამა თიკანი,
რომ იყიდა მამაჩემმა ორ
აბაზად, ერთი თიკანი, ერთი
თიკანი!
და მოვიდა ხარი და
დალია წყალი, რომ
ჩააქრო ცეცხლი, რომ
დაწვა ჯოხი, რომ ცემა
ძაღლი, რომ უკბინა კატას,
რომ შეჭამა თიკანი, რომ იყიდა
მამაჩემმა ორ აბაზად, ერთი
თიკანი, ერთი თიკანი!
და მოვიდა შოხეტა და დაკლა
ხარი, რომ დალია წყალი, რომ
ჩააქრო ცეცხლი, რომ დაწვა
ჯოხი, რომ ცემა ძაღლი, რომ
უკბინა კატას, რომ შეჭამა
თიკანი, რომ იყიდა მამაჩემმა
ორ აბაზად, ერთი თიკანი, ერთი
თიკანი!
და მოვიდა მალახ ამავეთი და
დაკლა შოხეტა, რომ დაკლა
ხარი, რომ დალია წყალი, რომ
ჩააქრო ცეცხლი, რომ დაწვა
ჯოხი, რომ ცემა ძაღლი, რომ
უკბინა კატას, რომ შეჭამა
თიკანი, რომ იყიდა მამაჩემმა
ორ აბაზად, ერთი თიკანი, ერთი
თიკანი!
და მობრძანდა აკადოშ
ბარუხუ და დაკლა მალახ
ამავეთი, რომ დაკლა შოხეტი,
რომ დაკლა ხარი, რომ დალია
წყალი, რომ ჩააქრო ცეცხლი,
რომ დაწვა ჯოხი, რომ ცემა
ძაღლი, რომ უკბინა კატას,
რომ შეჭამა თიკანი, რომ
იყიდა მამაჩემმა ორ აბაზად,
ერთი თიკანი, ერთი თიკანი!
erti tikani
erti tikani, erti tikani
rom ikida mamachemma or
abazad, erti tikani, erti tikani!
da movida kata da shechama
tikani, rom ikida mamachemma
or abazad, erti tikani, erti tikani!
da movida dzagli da ukbina
katas, rom shechama tikani,
rom ikida mamachemma or
abazad, erti tikani, erti tikani!
da movida joxi da cema
dzagli, rom ukbina katas,
rom shechama tikani, rom ikida
mamachemma or abazad, erti
tikani, erti tikani!
da movida cecxli da datsva
joxi, rom cema dzagli, rom
ukbina katas, rom shechama
tikani, rom ikida mamachemma
or abazad, erti tikani, erti tikani!
da movida tskali da chaakro
cecxli, rom datsva joxi,
rom cema dzagli, rom ukbina
katas, rom shechama tikani,
rom ikida mamachemma or
abazad, erti tikani, erti tikani!
da movida xar da
dalia tskali, rom
chaakro cecxli, rom
datsva joxi, rom cema
dzagli, rom ukbina katas,
rom shechama tikani, rom ikida
mamachemma or abazad, erti
tikani, erti tikani!
da movida shoxeta da dakla
xari, rom dalia tskali, rom
chaakro cecxli, rom datsva
joxi, rom cema dzagli, rom
ukbina katas, rom shechama
tikani, rom ikida mamachemma
or abazad, erti tikani, erti
tikani!
da movida malax amaveti da
dakla shoxeta, rom dakla
xari, rom dalia tskali, rom
chaakro cecxli, rom datsva
joxi, rom cema dzagli, rom
ukbina katas, rom shechama
tikani, rom ikida mamachemma
or abazad, erti tikani, erti
tikani!
da mobrdzanda akadom
baruxu da dakla malax
amaveti, rom dakla shoxeti,
rom dakla xari, rom dalia
tskali, rom chaakro cecxli,
rom datsva joxi, rom cema
dzagli, rom ukbina katas,
rom shechama tikani, rom
ikida mamachemma or abazad,
erti tikani, erti tikani!
A Goatling
One goatling, one goatling,
My father bought it for two abazi1,
One goatling, one goatling!
And there came a cat and ate
The goatling bought by my daddy
For two abazi, one goatling, one
Goatling!
And there came a dog and bit
The cat that had eaten the goatling
Bought by my daddy for two abazi,
One goatling, one goatling!
And there came a stick beating up
The dog that had bitten the cat
That had eaten the goatling
Bought by my daddy for two abazi,
One goatling, one goatling!
And there came the fire burning
The stick that had beaten the dog,
That had bitten the cat, that had eaten
The goatling bought by my daddy
For two abazi, one goatling, one
Goatling!
And there came the water extinguishing
The fire that had burnt the stick,
That had beaten the dog that had bitten
The cat that had eaten the goatling
Bought by my daddy for two abazi
One goatling, one goatling!
And there came a bull
Drinking up the water that
Had extinguished the fire that had burnt the stick
That had beaten the dog that had bitten the cat
That had eaten the goatling bought by my daddy
For two abazi, one goatling, one goatling!
And there came shochet2 killing the bull
That had drunk the water
That had extinguished the fire
That had burnt the stick
That had beaten the dog
That had bitten the cat
That had eaten the goatling
Bought by my daddy for two abazi,
One goatling, one goatling!
And there came Malah Hamavet3
Killing the shochet that had killed
The bull that had drunk the water
That had extinguished the fire
That had burnt the stick that
Had beaten the dog that
Had bitten the cat that
Had eaten the goatling
Bought by my daddy fot two abazi,
One goatling, one goatling!
And there came Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu4
Killing Malah Hamavet that had killed the shochet
That had killed the bull that had drunk the water
That had extinguished the fire
That had burnt the stick
That had beaten the dog
That had bitten the cat
That had eaten the goatling
Bought by my daddy for two abazi,
One goatling, one goatling!
[1] Abazi – Georgian money unit, introduced by Shah Abbas I in the 16th-17th centuries. Hence - its name.
[2]Shochet - a person officially certified as competent to kill cattle and poultry in the manner prescribed by Jewish law.
[3] Malah Hamavet – Angel of Death
[4] hakadosh-baruch-hu (OriginFrom: Hebrew הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (hakadósh barúkh hú) - (Judaism) the Holy One, blessed be He (euphemism for God)
Jewish English
Chad Gadya in English sung by Cantor Ken Richmond and Rabbi Shira Shazeer
This rendition of Chad Gadya was put together by English Christian composer Sir Henry Walford Davies, entitled A Kid A Kid. Walford Davies was Master of the King’s Music from 1934 until 1941 and served as music advisor to the BBC for almost two decades. The score, to the left, is handwritten. On the top left corner, Davies has written a description of his source material (the Passover liturgy) stating “a cumulative rhyme from an old Jewish hymn”. Davies never published his setting. But he clearly had larger goals for it, since he includes harmonies for a choir arrangement.
See the video below for a recording of this piece.
Jewish Persian
Transcribed and translated by Alan Niku
Bale morghak, bale, āshofteh morghak, bale.
Haghādosh Barookh Hoo, āmad-o, shehitā kard malakh hamāwvet.
Kudām malakh hamāwvet? Malakh hamāwvet-i-ke shehitā kard mollāh.
Kudām mollāh? Hamān mollāh-i-ke shehitā kard gāv.
Kudām gāv? Hamān gāv-i-ke khord āb.
Kudām āb? Hamān āb-i-ke khāmoosh kard ātash.
Kudām ātash? Hamān ātash-i-ke soozānd choob.
Kudām choob? Hamān choob-i-ke khord bar sar-e sag.
Kudām sag? HAMĀN SAG-E-PEDAR-SAG! ke khord gurba.
Kudām gurba? Hamān gurba-i-ke khord morghak.
Kudām morghak? Hamān morghak-i-ke babām khareed, do abbāsi!
Yes, the birdie, yes, the distressed birdie, yes.
The Holy One Blessed Be He came and slaughtered the Angel of Death.
Which Angel of Death? The Angel of Death that slaughtered the Mullah (Rabbi)
Which Mullah? That same Mullah who slaughtered the cow.
Which cow? That same cow that drank the water.
Which water? That same water that put out the fire.
Which fire? That same fire that burnt the stick.
Which stick? That same stick that hit the dog on the head.
Which dog? That same SON OF A BITCH** dog that ate the cat.
Which cat? That same cat that ate the birdie.
Which birdie? That same birdie that my father bought for two abbāsi.
*In Iran a Mullah (mollah) referred to a Muslim cleric, but also to local rabbis.
** This is the part they keep yelling really loudly throughout the video.
Jewish Neo-Aramaic
Hulaula (Sanandaj, Iran)
Translated by Alan Niku
Hiye haqadosh barukh hu, frishta molake dbhale
Ke qasabake dbhale
Ke tortake dbhale
Ke ma-ke shtenila
Ke nurake mtixlu
Ke siwa-ke meqle
Ke kalbake dile
Ke qatu-ake xilale
Ke ezonake xilale
Ezonake tati sheqlale tre zuze
Xa ezza, xa ezza, tati sheqlale tre zuze
Lishana Deni (Zakho, Iraq)
Sele haqadosh barukh hu
Dbahle d’aw malakh hamavet
Dbahle d’aw shohet
Dbahle d’aw tora
Dbshtele d’aw maya
Mochvele d’aw nura
D’moqezle d’aw asa
Dimhele d’aw kalba
Dngzla d’aw qat uza
Dbhela d’aw gadya
D’zbne babi bitre zuze
Had Gadya Had Gadya
Babi zbne tre zuze
Judeo-Tamazight
The Open Siddur Project includes the text and translation of Chad Gadya into Judeo-Amazigh. Below is the final verse in Hebrew script, transliteration, and English translation.
Then the blessed Holy One came and slaughtered the Angel of Death who slaughtered the shoḥet who slaughtered the ox that drank the water that put out the fire that burned the stick that bit the dog that bit the cat that ate the goat that my father bought for two zuzim, for two zuzim.
Yuškad ṛǝḅḅi inɣa lmut tǝnɣa lḥǝzzan iɣǝrs wăɣwi iswa aman sǝxsit laʕfit tǝẓdǝr tquṛăidit tut taidit tǝbbi tabusi tǝssa ikru, isɣayt ḅḅă ssin iqaridǝn, yan ikru yan ikru.
יוּשכַּד רְ֯בִּי יִנגַא לְמוּת תְנגַא לחְזַּן יִגְרס וָגוִי יִשׂוַא אַמַן סְּכֿסִין לַעְפִית תְז֯דְר תַקוּרָ֯אית תוּת תַאיִדִית תְבִּי תַבוּסִי תְשַּא יִכְּרוּ יִסְגַית בָּא שִּׂין יִקַרִידְן, יַאן יִכְּרוּ יַאן יִכְּרוּ׃
The text is part of the translation of the Haggadah by Yehuda Derʕi, born in the 1920s in Ighil n-Ughu, upstream from the Sous Valley, who settled in Ashdod, Israel in 1962. The translation was commissioned from Yehuda Derʕi by J. Chetrit in 1994.
Jewish German
Gott richtet Welt und Wesen
Gott richtet Welt und Wesen, die Guten wie die Bösen.
Dem Henker gab er Tod zum Lohn, weil er erwürgt des Menschen Sohn.
Den Ochsen, der das Wasser trank, der ausgelöscht den Feuerbrand, in der die Stock den Rächer fand.
Der Stock, der ohne Recht und Fug, den Hund tot auf der Stelle schlug,
der in die Wut, die Katz zerriss, die das unschuldige Lämmchen biss.
Das Lämmchen meinem Vater war. Er kauft es für zwei Suse* bar.
God judges world and beings, the good and the bad.
He gave death as a reward to the executioner, because he strangled the son of man.
The ox that drank the water that put out the fire, in which the stick was revenged.
The stick which, without any right or permission, killed the dog, who in his anger tore apart the cat, who bit the innocent lamb.
The lamb belonged to my father. He bought it for two Suse in cash.
Video of Steven M. Lowenstein singing Gott richtet Welt und Wesen