Classic
Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse
Hans Christian Andersen
In each language: The Princess and the Pea · Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse · La princesa y el guisante · La Princesse au petit pois · La principessa sul pisello
A prince searches the world for a bride who is a true princess, but can never be quite sure any of the candidates really are. One stormy night a drenched, bedraggled girl knocks at the gate claiming to be exactly that, and the old queen quietly devises a test to find out.
In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 400 words · 5 min to read.
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So fängt es an
Es war einmal ein Prinz, der wollte eine Prinzessin heiraten; aber es sollte eine wirkliche Prinzessin sein. Er reiste in der ganzen Welt herum, um eine solche zu finden, aber überall war etwas im Wege.
Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess; but she would have to be a real princess. He travelled all over the world to find one, but nowhere could he get what he wanted.
Prinzessinnen gab es genug, aber es war schwer herauszufinden, ob es wirkliche Prinzessinnen waren. Immer gab es etwas, das nicht ganz in Ordnung war.
There were princesses enough, but it was difficult to find out whether they were real ones. There was always something about them that was not as it should be.
Da kam er wieder nach Hause und war ganz traurig, denn er hätte so gerne eine wirkliche Prinzessin gehabt.
So he came home again and was sad, for he would have liked very much to have a real princess.
Languages
- The Princess and the Pea · English (original)384 words · ~5 min
- Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse · GermanB1 Intermediate · 355 words · ~5 min
- La princesa y el guisante · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 360 words · ~5 min
- La Princesse au petit pois · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 386 words · ~5 min
- La principessa sul pisello · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 327 words · ~5 min
Open in the reader: German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · Italian with English
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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 Princess and the Pea 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 384 words: around 5 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.