Which languages can I read The Little Match Girl 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 993 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.

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

Das kleine Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern

Hans Christian Andersen

In each language: The Little Match Girl · Das kleine Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern · La pequeña cerillera · La Petite Fille aux allumettes · La piccola fiammiferaia

On the last evening of the old year, a poor barefoot girl wanders the snowy streets. She has sold not a single match all day and dares not go home, afraid of her father. Huddled in a corner, she strikes a match to warm her fingers.

In English, German, Spanish, French and Italian · about 1,000 words · 5–10 min to read.

Read it

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.

Inizia a leggere

Ogni paragrafo seguito dalla sua versione in inglese, per il tuo e-reader o tablet, oppure un PDF affiancato da stampare. Quale file mi serve?

Il PDF non richiede un account; i file per e-reader ne richiedono uno gratuito. Nessun pagamento, niente da installare.

Hai già un account? Accedi

Come comincia

GermanEnglish

Es war schrecklich kalt und fast dunkel am letzten Abend des alten Jahres, und der Schnee fiel dicht. In der Kälte und Dunkelheit wanderte ein armes kleines Mädchen mit unbedecktem Kopf und nackten Füßen durch die Straßen.

It was terribly cold and nearly dark on the last evening of the old year, and the snow was falling fast. In the cold and the darkness, a poor little girl, with bare head and naked feet, roamed through the streets.

Zwar hatte sie ein Paar Pantoffeln an, als sie das Haus verließ, aber die waren ihr nicht viel nütze.

It is true she had on a pair of slippers when she left home, but they were not of much use.

Sie waren sehr groß, so groß sogar, dass sie ihrer Mutter gehört hatten, und die arme kleine Kreatur hatte sie verloren, als sie über die Straße rannte, um zwei Kutschen auszuweichen, die in rasendem Tempo daherkamen.

They were very large, so large, indeed, that they had belonged to her mother, and the poor little creature had lost them in running across the street to avoid two carriages that were rolling along at a terrible rate.

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

Languages

The Little Match Girl · English (original)993 words · ~5 min
Das kleine Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern · GermanB1 Intermediate · 934 words · ~10 min
La pequeña cerillera · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 967 words · ~10 min
La Petite Fille aux allumettes · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,036 words · ~10 min
La piccola fiammiferaia · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 904 words · ~10 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 Little Match Girl 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 993 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 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.