Which languages can I read Epictetus the Freedman in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese. 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.

The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

About 1,555 words in 7 chapters: around 5–15 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 downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

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.

Ancient Philosophers

Epictetus the Freedman

DuoText

Born a slave with a broken leg, he became the freest man in the world: he learned to want only what nobody could take from him.

7 chapters · about 1,600 words · 5–15 min to read.

Read it

Left · you readRight · for help

You read English on the left. Greek is on the right to help you, and while reading, the eye button blurs or hides it.

Start reading

Each paragraph followed by its Greek for your e-reader or tablet, or a side-by-side PDF to print. Which file do I need?

Downloads need a free account. No payment, nothing to install.

Already have an account? Log in

How it begins

EnglishGreek

The Slave

Ο Σκλάβος

Epictetus was born a slave. He came from Hierapolis, a city in the east, and nobody knows the year of his birth, only that it was about fifty years after Christ. Even his name is not really a name. "Epictetus" means "bought" or "acquired".

Ο Επίκτητος γεννήθηκε σκλάβος. Καταγόταν από την Ιεράπολη, μια πόλη στην ανατολή, και κανείς δεν ξέρει τη χρονιά της γέννησής του, παρά μόνο ότι ήταν περίπου πενήντα χρόνια μετά Χριστόν. Ακόμη και το όνομά του δεν είναι πραγματικό όνομα. «Επίκτητος» σημαίνει «αγορασμένος» ή «αποκτημένος».

He belonged to a rich man called Epaphroditus, who worked for the emperor Nero in Rome. So the slave grew up in the middle of power: fine houses, important guests, and endless talk about money and favour.

Ανήκε σε έναν πλούσιο άνδρα που ονομαζόταν Επαφρόδιτος, ο οποίος δούλευε για τον αυτοκράτορα Νέρωνα στη Ρώμη. Έτσι, ο σκλάβος μεγάλωσε στο επίκεντρο της εξουσίας: ωραία σπίτια, σημαντικοί καλεσμένοι και ατελείωτες συζητήσεις για χρήματα και εύνοια.

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

Epictetus the Freedman · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,555 words · ~15 min
Epiktet, der Freigelassene · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,504 words · ~15 min
Επίκτητος ο Απελεύθερος · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,548 words · ~15 min
Epicteto el liberto · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,504 words · ~15 min
Épictète l’affranchi · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,715 words · ~15 min
एपिक्टेटस: एक आज़ाद ग़ुलाम · HindiB1 Intermediate · 1,849 words · ~15 min
Epiktetos sang Orang Merdeka · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 1,437 words · ~10 min
Epitteto il liberto · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 1,552 words · ~15 min
解放奴隷エピクテトス · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
해방 노예 에픽테토스 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 1,126 words · ~10 min
Epicteto, o Liberto · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 1,589 words · ~15 min
Epictet liberul · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 1,525 words · ~15 min
Azatlı Köle Epiktetos · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 1,132 words · ~10 min
获释奴隶爱比克泰德 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

Open it in the reader: all 182 language pairs

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 Epictetus the Freedman in?: English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese. 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?: The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?: About 1,555 words in 7 chapters: around 5–15 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 downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.
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.