Classic
Das hässliche Entlein
Hans Christian Andersen
In each language: The Ugly Duckling · Das hässliche Entlein · El patito feo · Le Vilain Petit Canard · Il brutto anatroccolo
One egg in a mother duck's nest takes much longer to hatch than the rest, and the duckling that comes out is large and strange-looking beside his siblings. Mocked and pecked by the whole farmyard for his looks, he runs away and spends the seasons wandering alone.
In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 3,800 words · 20–35 min to read.
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How it begins
Es war herrliches Sommerwetter auf dem Lande, und das goldene Korn, der grüne Hafer und die auf den Wiesen aufgetürmten Heuhaufen sahen wunderschön aus.
It was lovely summer weather in the country, and the golden corn, the green oats, and the haystacks piled up in the meadows looked beautiful.
Der Storch, der auf seinen langen roten Beinen umherging, plapperte in der ägyptischen Sprache, die er von seiner Mutter gelernt hatte. Die Kornfelder und Wiesen waren von großen Wäldern umgeben, in deren Mitte tiefe Tümpel lagen.
The stork walking about on his long red legs chattered in the Egyptian language, which he had learnt from his mother. The corn-fields and meadows were surrounded by large forests, in the midst of which were deep pools.
Es war in der Tat herrlich, auf dem Lande umherzuwandern.
It was, indeed, delightful to walk about in the country.
Languages
- The Ugly Duckling · English (original)3,776 words · ~20 min
- Das hässliche Entlein · GermanB1 Intermediate · 3,694 words · ~30 min
- El patito feo · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 3,561 words · ~30 min
- Le Vilain Petit Canard · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 4,009 words · ~35 min
- Il brutto anatroccolo · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 3,394 words · ~30 min
Open in the reader: German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · Italian with English
More stories at this level
Intermediate stories in German with English beside it (all of them: Intermediate German stories).
- Das SamtkaninchenMargery Williams · B1 · 3,803 words
- Der ZauberladenH. G. Wells · B1 · 3,985 words
- Die AffenpfoteW.W. Jacobs · B2 · 3,994 words
- Die Katze, die für sich allein gingRudyard Kipling · B1 · 4,016 words
- Der glückliche PrinzOscar Wilde · B1 · 3,355 words
- Der SturmCharles and Mary Lamb · B2 · 4,040 words
Reading it as a parallel text
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Questions
- Which languages can I read The Ugly Duckling in?
- English, German, Spanish, French and Italian. 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, French and Italian are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.
- How long is it?
- About 3,776 words: around 20–35 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.