Which languages can I read The Elephant’s Child in?

English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.

In translation, German, Spanish, French and Italian are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

About 2,538 words: around 15–25 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.

Yes. Read it online with no account. The e-reader files (EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account; the PDF doesn't.

Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?

Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.

Classic

Das Elefantenkind

Rudyard Kipling

In each language: The Elephant’s Child · Das Elefantenkind · El hijo del elefante · L’Enfant d’éléphant · L’elefantino

In the High and Far-Off Times the Elephant has no trunk, only a bulgy nose as big as a boot. One young Elephant's Child, full of questions, is spanked by his aunts and uncles for asking. He sets off alone to the great grey-green Limpopo River to learn what the Crocodile has for dinner.

In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 2,500 words · 15–25 min to read.

Read it

Links · du liestRechts · als Hilfe

Du liest links auf Deutsch. Englisch steht rechts als Hilfe, und beim Lesen kannst du es mit der Augen-Taste verwischen oder ausblenden.

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So fängt es an

GermanEnglish

In den grauen Vorzeiten hatte der Elefant, o du mein Liebling, noch keinen Rüssel. Er hatte nur eine schwärzliche, knubbelige Nase, so groß wie ein Stiefel, die er von einer Seite zur anderen bewegen konnte; aber er konnte damit keine Dinge aufheben.

In the High and Far-Off Times the Elephant, O Best Beloved, had no trunk. He had only a blackish, bulgy nose, as big as a boot, that he could wriggle about from side to side; but he couldn’t pick up things with it.

Aber es gab einen Elefanten – einen neuen Elefanten – ein Elefantenkind –, das voller ‚sattloser Neugier war, und das bedeutet, dass es unendlich viele Fragen stellte. Und es lebte in Afrika und erfüllte ganz Afrika mit seiner ‚sattlosen Neugier.

But there was one Elephant—a new Elephant—an Elephant’s Child—who was full of ‘satiable curtiosity, and that means he asked ever so many questions. And he lived in Africa, and he filled all Africa with his ‘satiable curtiosities.

Es fragte seine große Tante, den Strauß, warum ihre Schwanzfedern genau so wüchsen, und seine große Tante, der Strauß, verpasste ihm einen Klaps mit ihrer harten, harten Kralle.

He asked his tall aunt, the Ostrich, why her tail-feathers grew just so, and his tall aunt the Ostrich spanked him with her hard, hard claw.

Die ersten Absätze, so wie der Reader sie zeigt. Weiterlesen

Languages

The Elephant’s Child · English (original)2,538 words · ~15 min
Das Elefantenkind · GermanB1 Intermediate · 2,518 words · ~20 min
El hijo del elefante · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 2,663 words · ~20 min
L’Enfant d’éléphant · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 2,737 words · ~25 min
L’elefantino · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 2,420 words · ~20 min

Open in the reader: German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · Italian with English

Reading it as a parallel text

A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.

Questions

Which languages can I read The Elephant’s Child in?: English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.
What level is it?: In translation, German, Spanish, French and Italian are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?: About 2,538 words: around 15–25 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.
Is it free?: Yes. Read it online with no account. The e-reader files (EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account; the PDF doesn't.
Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?: Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.