The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery- page 1

I

Once when I was six years old I saw a magnificent picture in a book, called True Stories from Nature, about the primeval forest.

• Once: At one time in the past. [wəns]
• when: At the time that. [wɪn]
• I: The speaker or writer. [aɪ]
• was: Past tense of 'to be'. [wɑz]
• six years old: Having lived for six years. [sɪks jɪrz oʊld]
• I: The speaker or writer. [aɪ]
• saw: Past tense of 'see', meaning to perceive with the eyes. [sɔ]
• a magnificent picture: An extremely impressive or beautiful image. [ə mægˈnɪfɪsənt ˈpɪkʧər]
• in a book: Contained within the pages of a bound collection of printed or written pages. [ɪn ə bʊk]
• called: Named or entitled. [kɔld]
• True Stories from Nature: The title of the book, suggesting factual accounts of events in the natural world. [tru ˈstɔriz frəm ˈneɪʧər]
• about: Concerning or relating to. [əˈbaʊt]
• the primeval forest: A forest that has existed since ancient times; an untouched, original forest. [ðə praɪˈmivəl ˈfɔrɪst]

It was a picture of a boa constrictor in the act of swallowing an animal.

• It: Referring to the picture. [ɪt]
• was: Past tense of 'to be'. [wɑz]
• a picture: A visual representation of something. [ə ˈpɪkʧər]
• of: Indicating the subject of the picture. [əv]
• a boa constrictor: A type of snake that kills its prey by constriction. [ə boʊə kənˈstrɪktər]
• in the act of: In the process of doing something. [ɪn ðə ækt əv]
• swallowing: Causing something to pass down the throat. [sˈwɑloʊɪŋ]
• an animal: A living creature that is not a human being. [ən ˈænəməl]

Here is a copy of the drawing.

• Here: In this place. [hir]
• is: Present tense of 'to be'. [ɪz]
• a copy: A reproduction or duplicate. [ə ˈkɑpi]
• of the drawing: Referring to the drawing mentioned earlier. [əv ðə drɔɪŋ]

Boa fauve.png

In the book it said: "Boa constrictors swallow their prey whole, without chewing it.

• In the book: Contained within the pages of a bound collection of printed or written pages. [ɪn ðə bʊk]
• it: Referring to the book. [ɪt]
• said: Past tense of 'say', meaning to express something in words. [sɛd]
• Boa constrictors: A type of snake that kills its prey by constriction. [boʊə kənˈstrɪktərz]
• swallow: To cause something to pass down the throat. [sˈwɔloʊ]
• their prey: An animal that is hunted or killed by another for food. [ðɛr preɪ]
• whole: Complete; not divided or in pieces. [hoʊl]
• without chewing it: Without breaking down the food with the teeth. [wɪˈθaʊt ʧuɪŋ ɪt]

I pondered deeply, then, over the adventures of the jungle.

• I: The speaker or writer. [aɪ]
• pondered deeply: Thought about something seriously and carefully. [ˈpɑndərd ˈdipli]
• then: At that time. [ðɛn]
• over: Concerning or in relation to. [ˈoʊvər]
• the adventures: An unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity. [ðə ædˈvɛnʧərz]
• of the jungle: A tropical forest in which vegetation is dense and luxuriant. [əv ðə ˈʤəŋgəl]

And after some work with a colored pencil I succeeded in making my first drawing.

• And: Used to connect words or clauses. [ənd]
• after: Following in time or order. [ˈæftər]
• some work: Effort or activity directed toward a goal. [səm wərk]
• with: Accompanied by. [wɪθ]
• a colored pencil: A pencil with a colored lead. [ə ˈkələrd ˈpɛnsəl]
• I: The speaker or writer. [aɪ]
• succeeded: Achieved the desired outcome. [səkˈsidɪd]
• in making: In the process of creating. [ɪn ˈmeɪkɪŋ]
• my first drawing: The initial visual representation created by the speaker. [maɪ fərst drɔɪŋ]

My Drawing Number One.

• My Drawing Number One: The speaker's first drawing, labeled as number one. [maɪ drɔɪŋ ˈnəmbər wən]

Sombrero.png

I showed my masterpiece to the grown-ups, and asked them whether the drawing frightened them.

• I: The speaker or writer; the person narrating the story. [aɪ]
• showed: Past tense of 'show', meaning to display or present something. [ʃoʊd]
• my masterpiece: The speaker's best or most important piece of work. [maɪ ˈmæstərˌpis]
• to the grown-ups: To the adults. [tɪ ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps]
• and: Used to connect words, phrases, or clauses. [ənd]
• asked: Past tense of 'ask', meaning to put a question to someone. [æst]
• them: Referring to the grown-ups. [ðɛm]
• whether: Expressing a doubt or choice between alternatives. [ˈwɛðər]
• the drawing: A picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayon. [ðə drɔɪŋ]
• frightened: Past tense of 'frighten', meaning to cause someone to become afraid. [ˈfraɪtənd]
• them: Referring to the grown-ups. [ðɛm]

But they answered: "Frighten?

• But: Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously. [bət]
• they: Referring to the grown-ups. [ðeɪ]
• answered: Past tense of 'answer', meaning to say something in response to a question or statement. [ˈænsərd]
• Frighten: To cause fear in someone. [ˈfraɪtən]

My drawing was not a picture of a hat.

• My drawing: The speaker's picture. [maɪ drɔɪŋ]
• was not: Was not equal to. [wɑz nɑt]
• a picture: A visual representation of something. [ə ˈpɪkʧər]
• of a hat: Depicting a hat. [əv ə hæt]

It was a picture of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant.

• It: Referring to the drawing. [ɪt]
• was: Past tense of 'be'. [wɑz]
• a picture: A visual representation. [ə ˈpɪkʧər]
• of a boa constrictor: Depicting a snake that constricts its prey. [əv ə boʊə kənˈstrɪktər]
• digesting: The process of breaking down food in the stomach. [ˈdaɪˌʤɛstɪŋ]
• an elephant: A very large animal with a trunk. [ən ˈɛləfənt]

But since the grown-ups were not able to understand it, I made another drawing: I drew the inside of a boa constrictor, so that the grown-ups could see it clearly.

• But: Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously. [bət]
• since: Because. [sɪns]
• the grown-ups: The adults. [ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps]
• were not able: Did not have the ability. [wər nɑt ˈeɪbəl]
• to understand: To comprehend. [tɪ ˌəndərˈstænd]
• it: Referring to the drawing. [ɪt]
• I: The speaker. [aɪ]
• made: Past tense of 'make', meaning to create or produce something. [meɪd]
• another drawing: An additional picture. [əˈnəðər drɔɪŋ]
• I: The speaker. [aɪ]
• drew: Past tense of 'draw', meaning to create a picture. [dru]
• the inside: The inner part. [ðə ˌɪnˈsaɪd]
• of a boa constrictor: The inner part of a snake that constricts its prey. [əv ə boʊə kənˈstrɪktər]
• so that: In order that. [soʊ ðət]
• the grown-ups: The adults. [ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps]
• could see: Were able to see. [kʊd si]
• it: Referring to the drawing. [ɪt]
• clearly: In a way that is easy to see or understand. [ˈklɪrli]

They always need to have things explained.

• They: Referring to the grown-ups. [ðeɪ]
• always: Every time; on all occasions. [ˈɔlˌweɪz]
• need: Require. [nid]
• to have things explained: To have things made clear or understandable. [tɪ hæv θɪŋz ɪkˈspleɪnd]

Boa.png

The grown-ups' response, this time, was to advise me to lay aside my drawings of boa constrictors, whether from the inside or the outside, and devote myself instead to geography, history, arithmetic, and grammar.

• The grown-ups' response: The reaction or answer of adults to something. [ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps rɪˈspɑns]
• this time: On this particular occasion. [ðɪs taɪm]
• was to advise: Was to give counsel or recommendations. [wɑz tɪ ədˈvaɪz]
• lay aside: To put something away; to stop considering something. [leɪ əˈsaɪd]
• drawings of boa constrictors: Pictures or sketches of large snakes that constrict their prey. [drɔɪŋz əv boʊə kənˈstrɪktərz]
• whether from the inside or the outside: Referring to drawings showing either the interior or exterior of the snake. [ˈwɛðər frəm ðə ˌɪnˈsaɪd ər ðə ˈaʊtˈsaɪd]
• devote myself: To dedicate oneself fully to something. [dɪˈvoʊt ˌmaɪˈsɛlf]
• instead: As an alternative. [ˌɪnˈstɛd]
• geography: The study of the Earth's physical features, atmosphere, and human activity. [ʤiˈɑgrəfi]
• history: The study of past events. [ˈhɪstəri]
• arithmetic: The branch of mathematics dealing with numbers and calculations. [ˌɛrɪθˈmɛtɪk]
• grammar: The rules governing the structure of a language. [ˈgræmər]

That is why, at the age of six, I gave up what might have been a magnificent career as a painter.

• That is why: For that reason; therefore. [ðət ɪz waɪ]
• at the age of six: When I was six years old. [æt ðə eɪʤ əv sɪks]
• gave up: Stopped doing something; abandoned. [geɪv əp]
• what might have been: Something that could have potentially been. [wət maɪt hæv bɪn]
• a magnificent career: An impressive and successful profession. [ə mægˈnɪfɪsənt kərɪr]
• as a painter: Working as an artist who creates paintings. [ɛz ə ˈpeɪnər]

I had been disheartened by the failure of my Drawing Number One and my Drawing Number Two.

• I had been disheartened: I had lost enthusiasm and confidence. [aɪ hæd bɪn dɪsˈhɑrtənd]
• by the failure: Because of the lack of success. [baɪ ðə ˈfeɪljər]
• Drawing Number One: The first drawing. [drɔɪŋ ˈnəmbər wən]
• Drawing Number Two: The second drawing. [drɔɪŋ ˈnəmbər tu]

Grown-ups never understand anything by themselves, and it is tiresome for children to be always and forever explaining things to them.

• Grown-ups: Adults. [ˈgroʊˌnəps]
• never understand: Do not ever comprehend. [ˈnɛvər ˌəndərˈstænd]
• anything: Anything at all. [ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]
• by themselves: On their own; without help. [baɪ ðɛmˈsɛlvz]
• it is tiresome: It is annoying or wearisome. [ɪt ɪz ˈtaɪərsəm]
• for children: For young people. [fər ˈʧɪldrən]
• to be always and forever: Constantly and perpetually. [tɪ bi ˈɔlˌweɪz ənd fərˈɛvər]
• explaining things: Making things clear or understandable. [ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ θɪŋz]
• to them: To the grown-ups. [tɪ ðɛm]

So then I chose another profession, and learned to pilot airplanes.

• So: used to indicate a transition to a new topic or a conclusion [soʊ]
• then: at that time; also used to indicate a sequence of events [ðɛn]
• I: the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]
• chose: past tense of 'choose', meaning to select or decide on something [ʧoʊz]
• another: one more; an additional one [əˈnəðər]
• profession: a job or occupation that requires specific education or training [prəˈfɛʃən]
• and: used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• learned: past tense of 'learn', meaning to gain knowledge or skill [ˈlərnɪd]
• to pilot: to operate or fly an aircraft [tɪ ˈpaɪlət]
• airplanes: aircraft with fixed wings, used for flying [ˈɛrpleɪnz]

I have flown a little over all parts of the world; and it is true that geography has been very useful to me.

• I: the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]
• have flown: past participle of 'fly', meaning to travel by air [hæv floʊn]
• a little: a small amount or extent [ə ˈlɪtəl]
• over: across or above [ˈoʊvər]
• all parts of: every region or area of [ɔl pɑrts əv]
• the world: the earth, including its countries and people [ðə wərld]
• and: used to connect words or phrases [ənd]
• it is true: used to emphasize that something is correct or factual [ɪt ɪz tru]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• geography: the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these [ʤiˈɑgrəfi]
• has been: present perfect tense of 'be', indicating a state or condition that started in the past and continues to the present [həz bɪn]
• very useful: extremely helpful or beneficial [ˈvɛri ˈjusfəl]
• to me: for my benefit or advantage [tɪ mi]

At a glance I can distinguish China from Arizona.

• At a glance: immediately; with a quick look [æt ə glæns]
• I: the speaker or writer referring to themself [aɪ]
• can distinguish: to recognize or point out the difference between two or more things [kən dɪˈstɪŋgwɪʃ]
• China: a country in East Asia [ˈʧaɪnə]
• from: used to indicate separation or difference [frəm]
• Arizona: a state in the southwestern United States [ˌɛrɪˈzoʊnə]

If one gets lost in the night, such knowledge is valuable.

• If: used to introduce a conditional clause [ɪf]
• one: a person; anyone [wən]
• gets lost: to become unable to find one's way [gɪts lɔst]
• in the night: during the hours of darkness [ɪn ðə naɪt]
• such knowledge: this kind of information or understanding [səʧ ˈnɑlɪʤ]
• is valuable: is important or useful [ɪz ˈvæljəbəl]