An alphabet song is any of various songs used to teach children the alphabet, used in kindergartens, pre-schools and homes around the world. Alphabet songs typically follow the alphabetic principle (though the phonics method offers variants), which in languages like English with morphophonemic variation represents a particular modality of pronunciation (ie. "cake" is , not ).

The A.B.C.

The A.B.C. () or A.B.C's () is one of the best-known English language alphabet songs, and perhaps the one most frequently referred to as "the alphabet song", especially in the United States.

The song was first copyrighted in 1835 by the Boston-based music publisher Charles Bradlee, and given the title "The A.B.C., a German air with variations for the flute with an easy accompaniment for the piano forte". The musical arrangement was attributed to Louis Le Maire (sometimes Lemaire), an 18th century composer. This was "Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1835, by C. Bradlee, in the clerk's office of the District Court of Massachusetts", according to the Newberry Library , which also says, "The theme is that used by Mozart for his piano variations, Ah, vous dirai-je, maman." This tune is more commonly recognizable as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star".

Lyrics: (each line represents two measures, or eight beats)
Sesame Street has used this alphabet song countless times in teaching the alphabet, probably the most popular example of which was a skit with Kermit the Frog and a little girl who kept interrupting the alphabet song interjecting "Cookie Monster!!" and giggling.

Zed for Zee

In the United States, Z is pronounced zee; in most other English-speaking countries it is pronounced zed. (This is also the case when it is sung in French, where "y and z" becomes "i-grec, zed".) Generally the absent zee-rhyme is not missed, although some children use a zee pronunciation in the rhyme which they would not use elsewhere. Variants of the song exist to accommodate the zed pronunciation. One variation shortens the second line and lengthens the last, to form a near-rhyme between N and zed:

Other variants make significantly more changes in order to rhyme with zed, and even alter the rest of the song to fit a new rhythm. For example:

In other languages

Another variation of this song is (to the same tune, also used in Germany)

The alphabet song as learned by many children in Japan is sung as:

In Finland:

In Australia:

a b c d e f g

I know that you can't catch me

h i j k l m n o p

I'll poke your eyes 'till you can't see

q r s t u v (don't catch me)

w x y z... now I can sing!

In Bulgaria:

In Denmark:

a b c d e f g

h i j k l m n

o p q r s t u

og der kommer fler' endnu

v x y z æ ø å

28 skal der stå!

Phonics

This alphabet song, sung to a different melody from that of the previous, is taught by some pre-schools that use the phonics method.

(continue for each letter with several slightly different melodies)

. . .

This song teaches children that each letter has a name and sounds. Just like a dog says "woof" and a cat says "meow", the "I" says "eye" and "ee".

Acrostic songs

There are also songs that go through the alphabet, making each letter stand for something in the process. The following is an example popular at many children's summer camps:

A popular song with a similar structure was recorded in 1948, by Buddy Kaye, Fred Wise, Sidney Lippman, and later Perry Como, called 'A' — You're Adorable:

Backwards song

The song starting with Z was first made popular in Wee Sing. It is called ZYXs. It goes as follows:

This song decreased in popularity after its Wee Sing release, and very few people know this to date.

Another version of the "Backwards Song" ends with

"A little practice, you won't go wrong,
and you can sing this backwards song".