Brothers Grimm

The Fisherman and His Wife

Der Fischer und seine Frau

A poor fisherman catches an enchanted prince in the shape of a fish and lets him go without asking for anything in return. His wife, unhappy in their pigsty by the sea, sends him back to the water again and again, each time wishing for something grander than before.

B115 minAudio

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

There was once a fisherman who lived with his wife in a pigsty, close to the sea.

Es war einmal ein Fischer, der mit seiner Frau in einem Schweinestall dicht am Meer lebte.

The fisherman went out fishing every day. One day, as he sat on the shore with his rod, looking at the sparkling waves and watching his line, suddenly his float was dragged deep into the water. When he pulled the line up, he had caught a big fish.

Der Fischer ging jeden Tag zum Angeln hinaus. Eines Tages saß er mit seiner Angel am Ufer, sah auf die glitzernden Wellen und beobachtete seine Schnur. Plötzlich wurde seine Pose tief ins Wasser gezogen. Als er die Schnur heraufzog, hatte er einen großen Fisch gefangen.

But the fish said, "Please let me live! I'm not a real fish. I'm an enchanted prince. Put me back in the water and let me go!" "Oh, ho!"

Aber der Fisch sagte: „Bitte lass mich leben! Ich bin kein richtiger Fisch. Ich bin ein verzauberter Prinz. Setz mich wieder ins Wasser und lass mich gehen!“ „Oho!“,

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

Languages

The Fisherman and His Wife · English (original)B1 Intermediate · 2,006 words · ~15 min · Audio
Der Fischer und seine Frau · GermanB1 Intermediate · 2,002 words · ~15 min · Audio
Ο ψαράς και η γυναίκα του · GreekB1 Intermediate · 1,869 words · ~15 min
El pescador y su mujer · SpanishB1 Intermediate · 1,870 words · ~15 min · Audio
Le pêcheur et sa femme · FrenchB1 Intermediate · 2,346 words · ~20 min · Audio
मछुआरा और उसकी पत्नी · HindiB1 Intermediate · 2,049 words · ~15 min
Nelayan dan Istrinya · IndonesianB1 Intermediate · 1,737 words · ~15 min
Il pescatore e sua moglie · ItalianB1 Intermediate · 1,897 words · ~15 min
漁師とその妻 · JapaneseB1 Intermediate
어부와 그의 아내 · KoreanB1 Intermediate · 1,357 words · ~10 min
De visser en zijn vrouw · DutchB1 Intermediate · 2,034 words · ~15 min
O rybaku i jego żonie · PolishB1 Intermediate · 1,576 words · ~15 min
O Pescador e Sua Esposa · PortugueseB1 Intermediate · 1,990 words · ~15 min
Pescarul și soția lui · RomanianB1 Intermediate · 1,954 words · ~15 min
Balıkçı ve Karısı · TurkishB1 Intermediate · 1,446 words · ~10 min
Ông lão đánh cá và mụ vợ · VietnameseB1 Intermediate · 2,456 words · ~20 min
渔夫和他的妻子 · ChineseB1 Intermediate

Questions

Which languages can I read The Fisherman and His Wife 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 2,006 words: around 5–20 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.

The Fisherman and His Wife

How it begins

Languages

Questions

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