Which languages can I read The Crow and the Pitcher in?

English, German, Spanish, 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.

In translation, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

About 123 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.

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.

Classic

Die Krähe und der Krug

Aesop

In each language: The Crow and the Pitcher · Die Krähe und der Krug · El cuervo y la jarra · カラスと水差し · 까마귀와 물병 · O Corvo e o Jarro · Corbul și ulciorul · Karga ile Sürahi · 乌鸦与水罐

In a dry spell, when the birds can find very little to drink, a thirsty crow comes upon a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher is high and its neck is narrow, and he cannot reach the water. So he starts dropping small pebbles in, one by one.

In English, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish and Chinese · about 100 words · 5 min to read.

Read it

Left · you readRight · for help

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

Start reading

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?

The PDF needs no account; e-reader files need a free one. No payment, nothing to install.

Already have an account? Log in

How it begins

GermanEnglish

Die Æsop für Kinder Die Krähe & der Krug In einer Zeit trockenen Wetters, als die Vögel sehr wenig zu trinken finden konnten, fand eine durstige Krähe einen Krug mit wenig Wasser darin.

The Æsop for Children The Crow & the Pitcher In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it.

Aber der Krug war hoch und hatte einen schmalen Hals, und egal wie sie es versuchte, die Krähe konnte das Wasser nicht erreichen. Das arme Ding hatte das Gefühl, vor Durst sterben zu müssen.

But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.

Dann kam ihm eine Idee. Er hob einige kleine Kieselsteine auf und ließ sie nacheinander in den Krug fallen. Mit jedem Kieselstein stieg das Wasser ein wenig höher, bis es endlich nah genug war, dass er trinken konnte.

Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.

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

Languages

The Crow and the Pitcher · English (original)123 words · ~5 min
Die Krähe und der Krug · GermanB1 Intermediate · 116 words · ~5 min
El cuervo y la jarra · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 125 words · ~5 min
カラスと水差し · JapaneseB1 Intermediate · 4 words · ~5 min
까마귀와 물병 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 85 words · ~5 min
O Corvo e o Jarro · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 122 words · ~5 min
Corbul și ulciorul · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 109 words · ~5 min
Karga ile Sürahi · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 82 words · ~5 min
乌鸦与水罐 · ChineseB1 Intermediate · 4 words · ~5 min

Open in the reader: German with English · English with German · English with Spanish · Spanish with English · Japanese with English · Korean with English · Portuguese with English · Romanian with English · Turkish with English · Chinese with English

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 Crow and the Pitcher in?: English, German, Spanish, 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?: In translation, German, Spanish, 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 123 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.