Which languages can I read The Dog and His Reflection 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.

In translation, German, Spanish, French and Italian are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

About 144 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

Der Hund und das Stück Fleisch

Aesop

In each language: The Dog and His Reflection · Der Hund und das Stück Fleisch · El perro y su reflejo · Le Chien qui lâche sa proie pour l’ombre · Il cane e il suo riflesso

A dog to whom the butcher has thrown a bone hurries home with his prize and crosses a narrow footbridge over a river. In the quiet water below he sees another dog carrying a much bigger bone, and greed takes hold.

In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 150 words · 5 min to read.

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Sinistra · leggiDestra · di aiuto

Leggi in tedesco a sinistra. inglese è a destra per aiutarti e, mentre leggi, il pulsante a forma di occhio la sfoca o la nasconde.

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Come comincia

GermanEnglish

Der Hund und sein Spiegelbild

The Dog and His Reflection

Ein Hund, dem der Metzger einen Knochen zugeworfen hatte, eilte mit seiner Beute so schnell er konnte nach Hause. Als er eine schmale Fußgängerbrücke überquerte, blickte er zufällig nach unten und sah sich selbst im stillen Wasser wie in einem Spiegel reflektiert.

A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow footbridge, he happened to look down and saw himself reflected in the quiet water as if in a mirror.

Doch der gierige Hund glaubte, einen echten Hund zu sehen, der einen viel größeren Knochen als seinen eigenen trug.

But the greedy Dog thought he saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own.

I paragrafi iniziali, come li mostra il lettore. Continua a leggere

Languages

The Dog and His Reflection · English (original)144 words · ~5 min
Der Hund und das Stück Fleisch · GermanB1 Intermediate · 144 words · ~5 min
El perro y su reflejo · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 140 words · ~5 min
Le Chien qui lâche sa proie pour l’ombre · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 149 words · ~5 min
Il cane e il suo riflesso · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 137 words · ~5 min

Open in the reader: German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · Italian 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 Dog and His Reflection 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 144 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.