Which languages can I read Thumbelina 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 4,332 words: around 25–35 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.

Pollicina di Hans Christian Andersen: leggilo in inglese, tedesco, spagnolo, francese e italiano, a fronte

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 einmal eine Frau, die sich sehnlichst ein kleines Kind wünschte, aber sie konnte ihren Wunsch nicht erfüllen. Schließlich ging sie zu einer Fee und sagte: „Ich möchte so schrecklich gerne ein kleines Kind haben; kannst du mir sagen, wo ich eines finden kann?“

There was once a woman who wished very much to have a little child, but she could not obtain her wish. At last she went to a fairy, and said, "I should so very much like to have a little child; can you tell me where I can find one?"

„Oh, das lässt sich leicht einrichten“, sagte die Fee. „Hier ist ein Gerstenkorn, das ganz anders ist als die, die auf den Feldern der Bauern wachsen und die die Hühner fressen; leg es in einen Blumentopf und sieh, was passiert.“

"Oh, that can be easily managed," said the fairy. "Here is a barleycorn of a different kind to those which grow in the farmer's fields, and which the chickens eat; put it into a flower-pot, and see what will happen."

„Danke“, sagte die Frau und gab der Fee zwölf Schillinge, was der Preis für das Gerstenkorn war.

"Thank you," said the woman, and she gave the fairy twelve shillings, which was the price of the barleycorn.

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

Languages

Thumbelina · English (original)4,332 words · ~25 min
Däumelinchen · GermanB1 Intermediate · 4,143 words · ~35 min
Pulgarcita · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 4,200 words · ~35 min
La Petite Poucette · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 4,432 words · ~35 min
Pollicina · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 3,972 words · ~35 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 Thumbelina 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 4,332 words: around 25–35 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.