Which languages can I read Der Schlüssel in?

German, Greek, English, 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 German is A2 Easy. In translation, Greek, English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are A2 Easy. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

About 1,226 words in 4 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.

Sommer im Zitronenhaus · Episode 1 of 5

Der Schlüssel

DuoText

Tom inherits his grandmother's old hotel on Lake Garda – and ten letters, one for each evening. He wants to sell it in a week. Then he meets Elena, who runs the hotel, and Giulia, his first love.

4 chapters · about 1,200 words · 5–15 min to read.

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

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

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How it begins

GermanEnglish

Der See

The lake

Ich heiße Tom. Ich bin einunddreißig Jahre alt und wohne in London. Oder ich habe in London gewohnt. Ich weiß es nicht mehr genau.

My name is Tom. I am thirty-one years old, and I live in London. Or I lived in London. I'm not sure anymore.

Es ist ein warmer Abend im Juni. Die Fähre hält in einer kleinen Stadt am Gardasee, im Norden von Italien. Das Wasser ist blau, die Berge sind hoch, und die Luft riecht nach Zitronen.

It is a warm evening in June. The ferry stops at a little town on Lake Garda, in the north of Italy. The water is blue, the mountains are high, and the air smells of lemons.

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

Languages

Der Schlüssel · German (original)A2 Easy · 1,226 words · ~15 min
Το κλειδί · GreekA2 Easy · 1,158 words · ~15 min
The Key · EnglishA2 Easy · 1,228 words · ~15 min
La llave · SpanishA2 Easy · 1,170 words · ~15 min
La Clé · FrenchA2 Easy · 1,371 words · ~15 min
चाबी · HindiA2 Easy · 1,424 words · ~15 min
Kunci Itu · IndonesianA2 Easy · 1,153 words · ~15 min
La chiave · ItalianA2 Easy · 1,145 words · ~15 min
かぎ · JapaneseA2 Easy
열쇠 · KoreanA2 Easy · 931 words · ~10 min
A Chave · PortugueseA2 Easy · 1,272 words · ~15 min
Cheia · RomanianA2 Easy · 1,149 words · ~15 min
Anahtar · TurkishA2 Easy · 920 words · ~10 min
钥匙 · ChineseA2 Easy

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 Der Schlüssel in?: German, Greek, English, 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 German is A2 Easy. In translation, Greek, English, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are A2 Easy. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
How long is it?: About 1,226 words in 4 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.