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Die Geschichte vom Zappel-Philipp

The Story of Fidgety Philip

Die Geschichte vom Zappel-Philipp

A short illustrated verse about a boy named Philipp who cannot sit still at the table. His parents expect calm manners, but Philipp keeps fidgeting and rocking his chair.

Die Geschichte vom Zappel-Philipp in English

Der Vater sah seinen Sohn Philipp ernst an. Er dachte: „Ob Philipp heute wohl ruhig am Tisch sitzen wird?“

The father looked at his son Philipp seriously. He thought, “I wonder whether Philipp will sit quietly at the table today.”

Die Mutter sagte nichts. Sie schaute nur still über den Tisch.

The mother said nothing. She only looked silently across the table.

Aber Philipp hörte nicht auf die Ermahnung seines Vaters. Er zappelte auf seinem Stuhl, wackelte hin und her und konnte einfach nicht still sitzen.

But Philipp did not listen to his father’s warning. He fidgeted on his chair, wobbled back and forth and simply could not sit still.

Philipp konnte einfach nicht still am Tisch sitzen.
Philipp konnte einfach nicht still am Tisch sitzen.

„Philipp, das gefällt mir gar nicht“, sagte der Vater streng.

“Philipp, I do not like that at all,” said the father sternly.

Philipp wackelte so wild, dass sein Stuhl plötzlich nach hinten umkippte. Er schrie und versuchte, sich am Tischtuch festzuhalten, aber es half nichts.

Philipp wobbled so wildly that his chair suddenly tipped over backwards. He screamed and tried to hold on to the tablecloth, but it was no use.

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This is the free opening. The rest — with audio, flashcards and translations in Persian, Turkish and Arabic — is in the app.

Every German sentence is paired with its English translation — read the German on its own, or check the English line by line. The opening is free to read here; the full story continues in the app, where it also reads in Persian, Turkish and Arabic.