Hans Christian Andersen
The Emperor’s New Clothes
Des Kaisers neue Kleider
An emperor who cares about nothing but fine clothes is thrilled when two swindlers offer to weave him a suit from a magical cloth, invisible to anyone unfit for their job or hopelessly stupid. As his ministers and finally the emperor himself go to inspect the empty looms, nobody dares admit what they actually see.
B115 minAudio
How it begins
Many, many years ago there lived an emperor who cared so much about new clothes that he spent all his money on them. His only ambition was to always be well dressed.
Vor vielen, vielen Jahren lebte ein Kaiser, dem neue Kleider so wichtig waren, dass er sein ganzes Geld dafür ausgab. Sein einziger Ehrgeiz war es, immer gut gekleidet zu sein.
He didn't care about his soldiers, and the theater didn't amuse him. In fact, the only thing he cared about was riding out to show off a new suit of clothes.
Seine Soldaten waren ihm egal, und das Theater machte ihm keinen Spaß. Eigentlich war ihm nur wichtig, auszureiten und einen neuen Anzug zu zeigen.
He had a coat for every hour of the day. And just as people say of a king, "He is in his council room," so they said of him, "The emperor is in his dressing room."
Er hatte für jede Stunde des Tages einen Rock. Und wie man von einem König sagt: „Er ist im Ratssaal“, so sagte man von ihm: „Der Kaiser ist in seiner Garderobe.“
Languages
- The Emperor’s New Clothes · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 1,541 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Des Kaisers neue Kleider · GermanB1 Intermediate · 1,540 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Τα καινούρια ρούχα του αυτοκράτορα · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,499 words · ~10 min
- El traje nuevo del emperador · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,473 words · ~10 min · Audio
- Les Nouveaux Habits de l’empereur · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 1,745 words · ~15 min · Audio
- सम्राट के नए कपड़े · HindiB1 Intermediate · 1,770 words · ~15 min
- Baju Baru Kaisar · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 1,425 words · ~10 min
- I vestiti nuovi dell’imperatore · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 1,476 words · ~10 min
- はだかの王様 · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
- 벌거벗은 임금님 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 1,103 words · ~10 min
- De nieuwe kleren van de keizer · DutchB1 Intermediate · 1,600 words · ~15 min
- Nowe szaty cesarza · PolishB1 Intermediate · 1,290 words · ~10 min
- A Roupa Nova do Imperador · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 1,485 words · ~10 min
- Hainele cele noi ale împăratului · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 1,538 words · ~15 min
- Kralın Yeni Giysileri · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 1,140 words · ~10 min
- Bộ quần áo mới của hoàng đế · VietnameseB1 Intermediate · 1,981 words · ~15 min
- 皇帝的新装 · ChineseB1 Intermediate
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Dutch with Polish · Dutch with Portuguese · Dutch with Romanian · Dutch with Turkish · Dutch with Vietnamese · Dutch with Chinese · Polish with German · Polish with Greek · Polish with Spanish · Polish with French · Polish with Hindi · Polish with Indonesian · Polish with Italian · Polish with Japanese · Polish with Korean · Polish with Dutch · Polish with Portuguese · Polish with Romanian · Polish with Turkish · Polish with Vietnamese · Polish with Chinese · Portuguese with German · Portuguese with Greek · Portuguese with Spanish · Portuguese with French · Portuguese with Hindi · Portuguese with Indonesian · Portuguese with Italian · Portuguese with Japanese · Portuguese with Korean · Portuguese with Dutch · Portuguese with Polish · Portuguese with Romanian · Portuguese with Turkish · Portuguese with Vietnamese · Portuguese with Chinese · Romanian with German · Romanian with Greek · Romanian with Spanish · Romanian with French · Romanian with Hindi · Romanian with Indonesian · Romanian with Italian · Romanian with Japanese · Romanian with Korean · Romanian with Dutch · Romanian with Polish · Romanian with Portuguese · Romanian with Turkish · Romanian with Vietnamese · Romanian with Chinese · Turkish with German · Turkish with Greek · Turkish with Spanish · Turkish with French · Turkish with Hindi · Turkish with Indonesian · Turkish with Italian · Turkish with Japanese · Turkish with Korean · Turkish with Dutch · Turkish with Polish · Turkish with Portuguese · Turkish with Romanian · Turkish with Vietnamese · Turkish with Chinese · Vietnamese with German · Vietnamese with Greek · Vietnamese with Spanish · Vietnamese with French · Vietnamese with Hindi · Vietnamese with Indonesian · Vietnamese with Italian · Vietnamese with Japanese · Vietnamese with Korean · Vietnamese with Dutch · Vietnamese with Polish · Vietnamese with Portuguese · Vietnamese with Romanian · Vietnamese with Turkish · Vietnamese with Chinese · Chinese with German · Chinese with Greek · Chinese with Spanish · Chinese with French · Chinese with Hindi · Chinese with Indonesian · Chinese with Italian · Chinese with Japanese · Chinese with Korean · Chinese with Dutch · Chinese with Polish · Chinese with Portuguese · Chinese with Romanian · Chinese with Turkish · Chinese with Vietnamese
Questions
Which languages can I read The Emperor’s New Clothes 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 1,541 words: around 5–15 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.