The snow comes on Saturday at three o'clock. By five the city is white.
How it begins
The snow comes on Saturday at three o'clock. By five the city is white.
Der Schnee kommt am Samstag um drei Uhr. Um fünf ist die Stadt weiß.
Snow on Line 24 is slow. The bus is slow. The people are slow. Everybody is cold and angry. At the stop by the river a man shouts at me. I am six minutes late, because of the snow. I don't shout back.
Mit Schnee ist die Linie 24 langsam. Der Bus ist langsam. Die Leute sind langsam. Allen ist kalt, und alle sind wütend. An der Haltestelle am Fluss schreit mich ein Mann an. Ich bin sechs Minuten zu spät, wegen des Schnees. Ich schreie nicht zurück.
At 9:15 Jonas gets on. There is snow on his dark coat and in his long hair.
Um 9:15 Uhr steigt Jonas ein. Auf seinem dunklen Mantel und in seinen langen Haaren ist Schnee.
Languages
- Hamid’s Promise · English (original)A1 Easy · 607 words · ~10 min · Audio
- Hamids Versprechen · GermanA1 Easy · 593 words · ~10 min · Audio
- La promesa de Hamid · SpanishA1 Easy · 568 words · ~10 min · Audio
- La promesse de Hamid · FrenchA1 Easy · 673 words · ~10 min · Audio
German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · English with German · English with Spanish · English with French · German with Spanish · German with French · Spanish with German · Spanish with French · French with German · French with Spanish
Questions
Which languages can I read Hamid’s Promise in?
English, German, Spanish and French. 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 A1 Easy. In translation, German, Spanish and French are A1 Easy. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 607 words: around 10 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.