https://www.proz.com/kudoz/french-to-english/poetry-literature/2561840-123-soleil.html
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Fonds et lisses

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

1,2,3 Soleil

English translation:

what's the time Mr Wolf?

Added to glossary by Mari O'Keefe
Apr 27, 2008 18:43
16 yrs ago
5 viewers *
French term

1,2,3 Soleil

French to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature 1,2,3 Soleil
How would you translate the above in English? Is it "ready steady go" as in a race or "coming ready or not" as in hide and seek, or neither of these?

It appears as a title above the following text:

Les bébés doivent courir vers leur professeur tant qu’il est tourné. Mais dès qu’il regarde vers eux, ils ne doivent plus faire aucun mouvement. Le premier à franchir la ligne a gagné

Thanks for your help.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +7 what's the time Mr Wolf?
4 +3 variation of
4 +1 Grandmother's footsteps
4 1,2,3 Sun appeared
4 Ready or not, here I come!

Discussion

Bourth (X) Apr 27, 2008:
As I say, I can't remember, but I don't remember it being that either! It may even be a French import those particular kids' teacher (or someone) taught them.
Carol Gullidge Apr 27, 2008:
Hi Bourth: it's Grandmother's Footsteps, see below.
Bourth (X) Apr 27, 2008:
Think there IS an Eng. equiv. Just wish I had a better memory. Last summer some Eng. children were staying near here, and I was bitterly disappointed, upon showing them the game, when they recognized it as a game of their own ...
Hélène Treloar Apr 27, 2008:
Before IT can ever turn round, they must count to 10 or say a rhyme such as “L-O-N-D-O-N spells London” or “One, two, three, four, five jam tarts”. The game as various names in various language, Peep, grandmother's footsteps.
Nathalie Elson Apr 27, 2008:
equivalent in English playgrounds
Nathalie Elson Apr 27, 2008:
It's actually the name of the game and what the teacher says when he is back to the kids. He turns around when he says soleil. The game is to say 123 soleil really slowly or really fast to catch the children off guard. I don't know if there is an

Proposed translations

+7
7 mins
Selected

what's the time Mr Wolf?

According to my six year old and four year old (!) who play this all the time at school, one person stands facing a wall while the others line up at the other end of the playground. The person with their back to the others calls 'un, deux, trois...' while the others creep up on thel. When the person shouts 'soleil' and turns around, all the others have to be as still as statues. If they are seen moving they have to go back to the beginning. The winner is the one who makes it to the wall without being seen moving. The closest I can think (racking my brains back a few years...) is 'What's the time Mr Wolf?' although the rules weren't exactly the same because the wolf had to chase the others when he said 'dinner time'....but something along these lines. Good luck!

Reference:

http://www.petitestetes.com/parents-enfants/sorties/champs/jeux-exterieur/jeux-exterieur-2.htm

Peer comment(s):
agree French Foodie : same answer at exactly the same time! Great minds... :-) (and exactly same age kids!)
1 min
ta frenchfoodie - they are useful for something eh?
agree Ghyslaine LE NAGARD
19 mins
cheers nc
agree Martin Cassell : that's what mine played, too
26 mins
thanks martin
agree Nathalie Elson : Great, I didn't know this game in English, I'll try it with my kids as a variation to 123 soleil (with playing in English as an added bonus!)
38 mins
thanks nathalie
agree bcsantos
43 mins
cheers bcsantos
agree Alanna Wilson-Duff : Yes, I used to play this as a child, the wolf has to count up to different o'clocks until someone tags him and then he has to chase his dinner. I've also called it 'statues' at different points.
5 hrs
thanks alanna
agree Ingeborg Gowans (X) : exactly: the German equivalent would be: "Mutter, Mutter, wie spät ist die Uhr"?
7 hrs
danke ingeborg
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you for all your suggestions and help. I think this solution works best. Thanks, Irene."
+3
7 mins

variation of

My kids play this game all the time. One person stands against a wall with back to group and counts out 1, 2, 3, as the group moves forward. When s/he yells Soleil!, s/he turns around and the group has to freeze. Whoever is caught moving is out, and the first person to reach the wall wins.

The closest English equivalent to this I believe is "What time is it Mr Wolf?"
google it and you'll get lots of descriptions :-)

Depending on your target audience, you'll have to decide if it's best to adapt the text to the English game, or simply describe the French game.
HTH

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Note added at 8 mins (2008-04-27 18:51:40 GMT)
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Whoops, of course the title is meant to be:

variation of "What time is it Mr Wolf?
Peer comment(s):
agree Irene McClure : snap!
1 min
agree Ghyslaine LE NAGARD
20 mins
thanks New Cal
agree Nathalie Elson
38 mins
thanks Nathalie
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16 mins

1,2,3 Sun appeared

This game reminds sun looking from the clouds. Especially as it is a title of some game, I would leave the original name and just provide a translation

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Note added at 20 mins (2008-04-27 19:04:10 GMT)
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Such game is available I think in any country and there are local names for it. Thus translating you should adopt the name appropriate for the target country. BUT English is widely used.. In my opinion even setting your mind to some equivalent name, I would put it in brackets..

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Note added at 21 mins (2008-04-27 19:04:59 GMT)
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1,2,3 Sun appeared [Mr wolf or whatever..]
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+1
1 hr

Grandmother's footsteps

This is what it's called in UK

Playground fun - RulesThis game is Grandmother's footsteps. Other ways to play · Rules · Album · Facts · Other similar games. Grandmother's footsteps ...
www.playgroundfun.org.uk/GameRules.aspx?gameID=63 - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

Early Learning Centre - Grandmother's footstepsGrandmother's footsteps. Recommended ages: 3 - 6. This is a classic. Enjoy it when there are lots of small people around, but don't forget about it when ...
www.elc.co.uk/play/idea.php?play_id=23 - 13k -
Peer comment(s):
agree Philippa Smith
12 hrs
thanks Philippa!
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4 hrs

Ready or not, here I come!

This is a shout out for an elementary school playgound game. The declaration sets the person who is the center of the game to go and seek, or "freeze" other kids if they get touched by the person who suddenly can run. Similar to what you call out when finished counting in the game of Hide and Seek. Not exactly the same game, but similar. There is are a few other playground games that might be similar: Simon Says, 1,2,3 FREEZE, and even some versions of "Freeze Tag" It was also the title of a French 1990s movie with Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Alanna Wilson-Duff : I know this game too, but I think it's a different one from that described above. We used to call this game "bull rush" and you had to run from one side of the field to another without getting tagged. Thing was everybody ran at once, hence the name.
1 hr
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