Little Women Bilingual EPUB & Word List
Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women opens with warm, natural family dialogue among the four March sisters, making it a favorite for CEFR B1 learners practicing everyday spoken expressions. Preview chapters 1 and 2 below.
- Original language
- English · Louisa May Alcott
- First published
- 1868
- CEFR Level
- B1
- Public Domain & Translation Note
- Full original EPUB on Project Gutenberg
Free Downloads & Online Reader
Download the two-chapter bilingual preview EPUB or the core vocabulary list for Anki right away, or open the LangBox EPUB reader to read and save words across the full book.
Chapter 1 & 2 Bilingual Preview
Double-click any word in the excerpt to hear its pronunciation and see its dictionary meaning.
I · Playing PilgrimsI · Jugando a los peregrinos
Original · English
“Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. “It’s so dreadful to be poor!” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. “I don’t think it’s fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all,” added little Amy, with an injured sniff.
Parallel translation
«La Navidad no será Navidad sin regalos», refunfuñó Jo, tendida en la alfombra. «¡Es tan horrible ser pobre!», suspiró Meg mirando su viejo vestido. «No me parece justo que algunas chicas tengan tantas cosas bonitas y otras nada en absoluto», añadió la pequeña Amy con un resoplido ofendido.
Original · English
“We’ve got Father and Mother, and each other,” said Beth contentedly from her corner. The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly, “We haven’t got Father, and shall not have him for a long time.”
Parallel translation
«Tenemos a papá y a mamá, y nos tenemos las unas a las otras», dijo Beth con satisfacción desde su rincón. Los cuatro rostros jóvenes iluminados por el fuego se alegraron con aquellas palabras, pero volvieron a ensombrecerse cuando Jo dijo con tristeza: «No tenemos a papá aquí, y no lo tendremos por mucho tiempo».
II · A Merry ChristmasII · Una feliz Navidad
Original · English
Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. No stockings hung at the fireplace, and for a moment she felt as much disappointed as she did long ago, when her little sock fell down because it was so crammed with goodies.
Parallel translation
Jo fue la primera en despertarse en el alba gris de la mañana de Navidad. No había medias colgadas en la chimenea y, por un momento, se sintió tan decepcionada como hacía mucho tiempo, cuando su pequeña media se cayó de tan repleta de dulces que estaba.
Original · English
Then she remembered her mother’s promise and, slipping her hand under her pillow, drew out a little crimson-covered book. She knew it very well, for it was that beautiful old story of the best life ever lived, and Jo felt that it was a true guidebook for any pilgrim going on a long journey.
Parallel translation
Entonces recordó la promesa de su madre y, deslizando la mano bajo la almohada, sacó un librito de cubierta carmesí. Lo conocía muy bien, pues era aquella hermosa historia antigua sobre la mejor vida jamás vivida, y Jo sintió que era una verdadera guía para cualquier peregrino en un largo viaje.
Core Vocabulary from Chapters 1 & 2
Key words and phrases in context from the opening chapters, ready to review or import into Anki.
| Word & Pronunciation | Meaning in Context | Sentence in Book |
|---|---|---|
| grumble/ˈɡrʌmbəl/v. | to complain in a low, unhappy voice | “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug. |
| dreadful/ˈdredfəl/adj. | very bad, unpleasant, or upsetting | “It’s so dreadful to be poor!” sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress. |
| contentedly/kənˈtentɪdli/adv. | in a peaceful, satisfied, and happy way | “We’ve got Father and Mother, and each other,” said Beth contentedly from her corner. |
| dawn/dɔːn/n. | the first light of day just before sunrise | Jo was the first to wake in the gray dawn of Christmas morning. |
| crammed with/kræmd wɪð/phr. | completely filled or stuffed to overflowing | Her little sock fell down because it was so crammed with goodies. |
| crimson/ˈkrɪmzən/adj. | a rich, deep red color | Slipping her hand under her pillow, she drew out a little crimson-covered book. |