O Canada

"O Canada" (French: Ô Canada) is the national anthem of Canada. Calixa Lavallée wrote the music, and Adolphe-Basile Routhier wrote the words in French. It was first sung in French in 1880. Robert Stanley Weir wrote the English words for the song, which are not a translation of the French lyrics, in 1908.

O Canada / Ô Canada

Building in Vieux-Québec, were O Canada was composed
National anthem of	Canada
Lyrics	Adolphe-Basile Routhier 1880 (French) Robert Stanley Weir, 1908 (English)
Music	Calixa Lavallée
Adopted	1980
Music sample
O Canada

It was sung as the national anthem for many years before the government made it official on 1 July (Canada Day) in 1980.

"O Canada" has been translated into many languages. Some of these languages are spoken by people living in Canada, but they trace their roots in other parts of the globe. These languages include Chinese, Japanese, German, Spanish, Italian, Punjabi, Russian, and Ukrainian. The song has also been translated into indigenous languages (languages spoken by First Nations), such as Inuktitut, Ojibwe, Cree, and Mi'kmaq.

English lyrics

English original	Simple English translation
O Canada! Our home and native land, True patriot love in all of us command! With glowing hearts we see thee rise The True North strong and free, From far and wide, O Canada, We stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee; O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.	Canada, our home and the country where we were born, Everything we do is for you! With joy we watch you get better and better. You are the True North, strong and free. Our citizens come from all over the world And we watch over you to keep you safe. God, please keep our land good and free! O Canada, we watch over you to keep you safe; O Canada, we watch over you to keep you safe!

French lyrics

French original	IPA transcription	English translation
Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux, Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux! Car ton bras sait porter l'épée, Il sait porter la croix! Ton histoire est une épopée Des plus brillants exploits. Et ta valeur, de foi trempée, 𝄆 Protégera nos foyers et nos droits. 𝄇	[o kanada] [tɛ.ʁə də nɔ.z‿a.jø] [tɔ̃ fʁɔ̃.t‿ɛ sɛ̃ də flø.ʁɔ̃ glɔ.ʁi.ø] [kaʁ tɔ̃ bʁa sɛ pɔʁ.te l‿e.pe.ə] [il sɛ pɔʁ.te la kʁwa] [tɔ.n‿is.twaʁ ɛ.t‿yn e.pɔ.pe.ə] [de ply bʁi.jɑ̃.z‿ɛks.plwa] [e ta va.løʁ de fwa tʁɑ̃.pe] 𝄆 [pʁɔ.te.ʒə.ʁa nɔ fwa.je.z‿e nɔ dʁwa] 𝄇	O Canada! Land of our ancestors Glorious deeds circle your brow For your arm knows how to wield the sword Your arm knows how to carry the cross; Your history is an epic Of brilliant deeds And your valour steeped in faith 𝄆 Will protect our homes and our rights. 𝄇

Multilingual versions

Bilingual version (English and French)	Bilingual version (English and French)	Trilingual version (English, French and Inuktitut)
O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command. Car ton bras sait porter l'épée, Il sait porter la croix! Ton histoire est une épopée Des plus brillants exploits. God keep our land glorious and free! 𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee! 𝄇	Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux, Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux! Car ton bras sait porter l'épée, Il sait porter la croix! Ton histoire est une épopée Des plus brillants exploits. God keep our land glorious and free! 𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee! 𝄇	ᐆ ᑲᓇᑕ! ᓇᖕᒥᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ! ᐱᖁᔭᑏ ᓇᓚᑦᑎᐊᖅᐸᕗᑦ. ᐊᖏᒡᓕᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑎ, Car ton bras sait porter l'épée, Il sait porter la croix ! Ton histoire est une épopée Des plus brillants exploits God keep our land glorious and free! 𝄆 O Canada, we stand on guard for thee! 𝄇

Translations into indigenous language

Inuktitut	Ojibwe	Cree	Mi'kmaq
ᐆ ᑲᓇᑕ! ᓇᖕᒥᓂ ᓄᓇᕗᑦ! ᐱᖁᔭᑏ ᓇᓚᑦᑎᐊᖅᐸᕗᑦ. ᐊᖏᒡᓕᕙᓪᓕᐊᔪᑎ, ᓴᙱᔪᓗᑎᓪᓗ. ᓇᖏᖅᐳᒍ, ᐆ ᑲᓇᑕ, ᒥᐊᓂᕆᑉᓗᑎ. ᐆ ᑲᓇᑕ! ᓄᓇᑦᓯᐊ! ᓇᖏᖅᐳᒍ ᒥᐊᓂᕆᑉᓗᑎ, 𝄆 ᐆ ᑲᓇᑕ, ᓴᓚᒋᔭᐅᖁᓇ!𝄇	O, Canada, maampii enjibaayang Nindakiimnaang gichi-aapittendaagwag Ninde'naang mashkawendandaa Giiwednong zaagtoodaa naaniibwidaa, O, Canada, weweni ganawendandaa 𝄆 O, Canada, gichi-gwanaaj naaniibwidaa, Miigwechiwendandaa! 𝄇	Ka Kanata, nikinan nitaskinan. Sahkihitowin kicawasimisak. Nitehinan kipasikon. Kicikiwetinohk. Ota ohci nete isko. Kasihtoskatinan. Nohtawinan. kanaweyita. 𝄆 Ka Kanata ninipawinan kiya ohci! 𝄇	O' Kanata, kmîtkinu kinu Me'ki ksite'lmulek nkamlamuninaq Kesi ksalulek mekite'lmulek Kisiknewa'liek ta'n tetutki'k U't maqmikew melki ankweyulek Kisu'lkw wli-anko'tjn kmîtkinu 𝄆 O' Kanata melki ikalulek! 𝄇