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One sentence of «Der süße Brei»


Sentence 1 of 6 · Der süße Brei, Brüder Grimm

Es war einmal ein armes frommes Mädchen, das lebte mit seiner Mutter allein, und sie hatten nichts mehr zu essen.

There was once a poor, pious girl who lived alone with her mother, and they had nothing left to eat.

Where it stands

Da ging das Kind hinaus in den Wald, und begegnete ihm da eine alte Frau, die wusste seinen Jammer schon und schenkte ihm ein Töpfchen, zu dem sollt es sagen „Töpfchen, koche,“ so kochte es guten süßen Hirsenbrei, und wenn es sagte „Töpfchen, steh,“ so hörte es wieder auf zu kochen.

So the child went out into the forest, and there an old woman met her who already knew her distress, and gave her a little pot; to it she was to say “Little pot, cook,” and then it would cook good sweet millet porridge, and when she said “Little pot, stop,” it would leave off cooking again.

Das Mädchen brachte den Topf seiner Mutter heim, und nun waren sie ihrer Armut und ihres Hungers ledig und aßen süßen Brei so oft sie wollten.

The girl brought the pot home to her mother, and now they were rid of their poverty and their hunger, and ate sweet porridge as often as they liked.

Every word in it

As printedDictionary formMeaning
Esesit (pers. pron., 3rd sg. n.)
warseinto be (v.); also: his, its (poss. det., 3rd sg. m./n.)
einmaleinmalonce, one time; „auf einmal“ = all at once (adv.)
eineina, an (indef. art.); one (num.); also the adverbial particle „in“ in „Gaß aus Gaß ein“ (art./adv.)
armesarmpoor (adj.)
frommesfrommpious, devout; good, dutiful (adj.)
MädchenMädchengirl (n., n.)
dasderthat one, who, which (dem. pron.)
lebtelebento live (v.)
mitmitwith (prep., dat.)
seinerseinits, here: her (poss. det.)
MutterMuttermother (n., f.)
alleinalleinalone (adj./adv.)
undundand (conj.)
siesieshe, they; her, them (pers. pron.)
hattenhabento have (v.)
nichtsnichtsnothing (indef. pron.)
mehrmehrmore (adv./det.; comparative of viel)
zuzuto, at (prep., dat.); too (adv.); the infinitive marker
essenessento eat (v.)

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