Rudyard Kipling

How the Whale Got His Throat

Wie der Wal zu seinem Schlund kam

Having eaten nearly every fish in the sea, a Whale is hungry again. A small, astute fish near his ear suggests he try a man, and tells him where to find a shipwrecked sailor on a raft in the middle of the ocean. It is a meal the Whale will not forget.

B110 minAudio

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

In the sea, once upon a time, O my Best Beloved, there was a Whale, and he ate fishes.

Es war einmal im Meer, mein allerliebstes Kind, da gab es einen Wal, und der fraß Fische.

He ate the starfish and the garfish, and the crab and the dab, and the plaice and the dace, and the skate and his mate, and the mackereel and the pickereel, and the really truly twirly-whirly eel.

Er fraß den Seestern und den Hornhecht, die Krabbe und die Flunder, die Scholle und den Hasel, den Rochen und sein Weibchen, die Makrele und den Hecht, und den wahrhaftig windungsreichen Aal.

All the fishes he could find in all the sea he ate with his mouth—so! Till at last there was only one small fish left in all the sea, and he was a small ‘Stute Fish, and he swam a little behind the Whale’s right ear, so as to be out of harm’s way.

Alle Fische, die er im ganzen Meer finden konnte, fraß er mit seinem Maul – so! Bis schließlich nur noch ein einziger kleiner Fisch im ganzen Meer übrig war, und das war ein kleiner „Schlau-Fisch“, der ein Stück hinter dem rechten Ohr des Wals schwamm, um aus der Gefahrenzone zu bleiben.

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

Languages

How the Whale Got His Throat · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,042 words · ~10 min · Audio
Wie der Wal zu seinem Schlund kam · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,024 words · ~10 min · Audio
Πώς η Φάλαινα απέκτησε τον Λαιμό της · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,009 words · ~10 min
Cómo le salió la garganta a la Ballena · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,043 words · ~10 min · Audio
Comment la baleine eut sa gorge · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,118 words · ~10 min · Audio
व्हेल को अपना गला कैसे मिला · HindiB1 Intermediate · 1,141 words · ~10 min
Bagaimana Paus Mendapatkan Tenggorokannya · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 950 words · ~10 min
Come la Balena si procurò la gola · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 988 words · ~10 min
クジラののどはどうしてせまくなったか · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
고래의 목구멍은 어떻게 생겨났을까 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 738 words · ~5 min
Hoe de walvis aan zijn keel kwam · DutchB1 Intermediate · 1,088 words · ~10 min
Jak wieloryb zdobył swój przełyk · PolishB1 Intermediate · 863 words · ~5 min
Como a Baleia Ficou com a Garganta Apertada · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 1,075 words · ~10 min
Cum și-a căpătat Balena gâtlejul · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 1,018 words · ~10 min
Balinanın Boğazı Nasıl Oluştu · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 745 words · ~5 min
Cá Voi Đã Có Cổ Họng Như Thế Nào · VietnameseB1 Intermediate · 1,399 words · ~10 min
鲸鱼的喉咙是怎么来的 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read How the Whale Got His Throat in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese 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?

The original English is B1 Intermediate. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are B1 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.

How long is it?

About 1,042 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 downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

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.

How the Whale Got His Throat

How it begins

Languages

Questions

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