The First Customer

DuoText original

Ana, 24, answers an advert and comes alone to Hollin Bridge, a small market town in the north of England: night baker wanted, no experience needed, room upstairs.

about 550 words · 5–10 min to read.

Part of a series best read in order.

Start with episode 1

Read it

I read with beside it

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

Start reading

Free account, no payment, no card. Then download this book for your Kindle, Kobo or as a PDF.

EPUB · PDF · Kindle (AZW3, MOBI) · Kobo

Already have an account? Log in

How it begins

EnglishGerman

“From the bakery,” Ana says. “From the back step. In the morning, the bread isn’t there. Only the bag. Like this.”

„Aus der Bäckerei“, sagt Ana. „Von der Stufe hinten. Am Morgen ist das Brot nicht mehr da. Nur die Tüte. So.“

Priya picks up the paper square. She looks at it. Then she puts it in Ana’s hand and closes Ana’s fingers on it.

Priya nimmt das Papierviereck. Sie schaut es an. Dann legt sie es in Anas Hand und schließt Anas Finger darum.

“Keep it in your pocket, my dear,” she says. “And don’t show it to Walter. Please.”

„Behalt es in deiner Tasche, meine Liebe“, sagt sie. „Und zeig es Walter nicht. Bitte.“

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

Languages

All 17 editions: titles, levels and lengths

The First Customer · English (original)A1 Easy · 539 words · ~10 min
Der erste Kunde · GermanA1 Easy · 522 words · ~5 min
Ο πρώτος πελάτης · GreekA1 Easy · 541 words · ~10 min
El primer cliente · SpanishA1 Easy · 540 words · ~10 min
Le premier client · FrenchA1 Easy · 640 words · ~10 min
पहला ग्राहक · HindiA1 Easy · 595 words · ~10 min
Pelanggan Pertama · IndonesianA1 Easy · 520 words · ~5 min
Il primo cliente · ItalianA1 Easy · 518 words · ~5 min
はじめてのおきゃくさん · JapaneseA1 Easy
첫 손님 · KoreanA1 Easy · 378 words · ~5 min
De eerste klant · DutchA1 Easy · 545 words · ~10 min
Pierwszy klient · PolishA1 Easy · 458 words · ~5 min
O Primeiro Cliente · PortugueseA1 Easy · 556 words · ~10 min
Primul client · RomanianA1 Easy · 522 words · ~5 min
İlk Müşteri · TurkishA1 Easy · 399 words · ~5 min
Người khách đầu tiên · VietnameseA1 Easy · 626 words · ~10 min
第一个客人 · ChineseA1 Easy

Open it in the reader: all 272 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 The First Customer in?

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

How long is it?

About 539 words: around 5–10 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.