The grown-ups(Refers to adults; people who are no longer children [ðə ˈgroʊˌnəps]), to be sure(certainly; without a doubt [tɪ bi ʃʊr]), will not believe(future tense of 'not believe'; will not accept as true [wɪl nɑt bɪˈliv]) you(the person being addressed [ju]) when you tell them that(at the time that you inform them of something [wɪn ju tɛl ðɛm ðət]). They(referring to the grown-ups [ðeɪ]) imagine(to form a mental image or concept of something [ˌɪˈmæʤən]) that they fill(that they occupy [ðət ðeɪ fɪl]) a great deal of space(a large amount of physical area or metaphorical importance [ə greɪt dil əv speɪs]). They fancy themselves(They imagine or believe themselves to be [ðeɪ ˈfænsi ðɛmˈsɛlvz]) as important as(equally significant or consequential to [ɛz ˌɪmˈpɔrtənt ɛz]) the baobabs(referring to baobab trees, which are large and imposing [ðə baobabs]). You should advise them(You ought to suggest to them [ju ʃʊd ədˈvaɪz ðɛm]), then(at that time; in that case [ðɛn]), to make their own calculations(to perform their own mathematical computations [tɪ meɪk ðɛr oʊn ˌkælkjəˈleɪʃənz]). They adore figures(They greatly admire numbers or numerical data [ðeɪ əˈdɔr ˈfɪgjərz]), and that will please them(and that action will make them happy [ənd ðət wɪl pliz ðɛm]). But do not waste your time(However, do not spend your time unwisely [bət du nɑt weɪst jʊr taɪm]) on this extra task(on this additional assignment or duty [ɔn ðɪs ˈɛkstrə tæsk]). It is unnecessary(It is not needed; it is superfluous [ɪt ɪz ənˈnɛsəˌsɛri]). You have(You possess [ju hæv]), I know(I am aware [aɪ noʊ]), confidence in me(trust or faith in my abilities or character [ˈkɑnfədɛns ɪn mi]).
Une fois sur terre.jpg
When(At the time that [wɪn]) the little prince(A young, possibly small, royal figure [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]) arrived(Reached a destination [əraɪvd]) on the Earth(Referring to the planet Earth [ɔn ðə ərθ]), he was(he was [hi wɑz]) very much surprised(Extremely astonished [ˈvɛri məʧ səˈpraɪzd]) not to see(To not observe [nɑt tɪ si]) any people(No individuals [ˈɛni ˈpipəl]). He was beginning(He started [hi wɑz bɪˈgɪnɪŋ]) to be afraid(To feel fear [tɪ bi əˈfreɪd]) he had come(he had traveled [hi hæd kəm]) to the wrong planet(To an incorrect celestial body [tɪ ðə rɔŋ ˈplænət]), when(At the moment that [wɪn]) a coil of gold(A spiral or ring of golden material [ə kɔɪl əv goʊld]), the color of the moonlight(Having a pale, silvery hue [ðə ˈkələr əv ðə ˈmunˌlaɪt]), flashed(Appeared suddenly and briefly [flæʃt]) across the sand(Over the surface of the sandy ground [əˈkrɔs ðə sænd]).
"Good evening(a polite greeting used when meeting someone in the evening or at night [gʊd ˈivnɪŋ])," said the little prince courteously(in a polite and respectful manner [courteously]).
"Good evening(a polite greeting used when meeting someone in the evening or at night [gʊd ˈivnɪŋ])," said the snake.
"What planet(refers to which specific celestial body [wət ˈplænət]) is this(identifies the planet being discussed [ɪz ðɪs]) on which(indicates the planet where the action occurred [ɔn wɪʧ]) I have come down(indicates the action of landing or arriving [aɪ hæv kəm daʊn])?" asked the little prince.
"This is the Earth(identifies the planet as Earth [ðɪs ɪz ðə ərθ]); this is Africa(specifies the continent as Africa [ðɪs ɪz ˈæfrɪkɑ])," the snake answered.
"Ah! Then there are no people(indicates an absence of humans [noʊ ˈpipəl]) on the Earth(referring to the planet Earth [ðə ərθ])?"
"This is the desert(identifies the location as a desert [ðɪs ɪz ðə ˈdɛzərt]). There are no people(indicates an absence of humans [noʊ ˈpipəl]) in the desert(referring to the desert [ðə ˈdɛzərt]). The Earth is large(states that the planet Earth is big [ðə ərθ ɪz lɑrʤ])," said the snake.
The little prince sat down(took a seated position [sæt daʊn]) on a stone(a small rock [ə stoʊn]), and raised his eyes(looked upwards [reɪzd hɪz aɪz]) toward the sky(in the direction of the sky [təˈwɔrd ðə skaɪ]).
"I wonder(expresses curiosity or contemplation [aɪ ˈwəndər])," he said, "whether the stars are set alight in heaven(questions if the stars are lit in the sky [ˈwɛðər ðə stɑrz ər sɛt əˈlaɪt ɪn ˈhɛvən]) so that(with the purpose that [soʊ ðət]) one day(at some point in the future [wən deɪ]) each one of us(every individual among a group [iʧ wən əv ˈjuˈɛs]) may find his own again(might rediscover something personal or familiar [meɪ faɪnd hɪz oʊn əˈgɛn])... Look at my planet(referring to the speaker's own planet [maɪ ˈplænət]). It is right there above us(indicates the planet's location in the sky [ɪt ɪz raɪt ðɛr əˈbəv ˈjuˈɛs]). But how far away it is(expresses the great distance to the planet [haʊ fɑr əˈweɪ ɪt ɪz])!"
"It is beautiful(A statement expressing admiration for something's appearance or quality [ɪt ɪz ˈbjutəfəl])," the snake said(Attribution of the previous statement to the snake [ðə sneɪk sɛd]). "What(An interrogative word used to ask for specific information [wət]) has brought(Implies the cause or reason for someone's arrival [həz brɔt]) you here(Asks the listener why they have come to this place [ju hir])?"
"I have been having(Indicates a continuous or ongoing experience of something [aɪ hæv bɪn ˈhævɪŋ]) some trouble(Refers to difficulties or problems [səm ˈtrəbəl]) with a flower(Specifies the source of the trouble as a flower [wɪθ ə flaʊər])," said the little prince(Attribution of the statement to the little prince [sɛd ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]).
"Ah(An exclamation, often expressing understanding, surprise, or recognition [ɑ])!" said the snake(Attribution of the exclamation to the snake [sɛd ðə sneɪk]).
And(A conjunction used to connect clauses or sentences [ənd]) they(Refers to the little prince and the snake [ðeɪ]) were(Past tense of the verb 'to be', indicating a state of being [wər]) both(Indicates that two entities are included [boʊθ]) silent(Not speaking; without sound [ˈsaɪlənt]).
Il regarde le serpent.jpg
"Where(An interrogative word used to ask about location [wɛr]) are(A form of the verb 'to be', indicating existence or location [ər]) the men(Asks about the location of men [ðə mɛn])?" the little prince(Refers to the character known as the little prince [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]) at last(Eventually; after some time [æt læst]) took up(Began or resumed [tʊk əp]) the conversation(The act of talking between two or more people [ðə ˌkɑnvərˈseɪʃən]) again(Once more; indicating a resumption of something [əˈgɛn]). "It(Refers to the situation or environment [ɪt]) is(A form of the verb 'to be', indicating a state of being [ɪz]) a little lonely(Somewhat solitary or isolated [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈloʊnli]) in the desert(Specifies the location of the loneliness as the desert [ɪn ðə ˈdɛzərt])..."
"It(Refers to the situation or environment [ɪt]) is(A form of the verb 'to be', indicating a state of being [ɪz]) also(In addition; as well [ˈɔlsoʊ]) lonely(Feeling isolated or sad due to being alone [ˈloʊnli]) among men(Specifies the context of loneliness as being among people [əˈməŋ mɛn])," the snake said(Attribution of the statement to the snake [ðə sneɪk sɛd]).
The little prince(Refers to the character known as the little prince [ðə ˈlɪtəl prɪns]) gazed(Looked steadily and intently [geɪzd]) at him(Refers to the snake [æt ɪm]) for a long time(For an extended period [fər ə lɔŋ taɪm]).
"You(Refers to the snake [ju]) are(A form of the verb 'to be', indicating a state of being [ər]) a funny animal(Describes the snake as strange or peculiar [ə ˈfəni ˈænəməl])," he said(Attribution of the statement to the little prince [hi sɛd]) at last(Eventually; after some time [æt læst]). "You(Refers to the snake [ju]) are(A form of the verb 'to be', indicating a state of being [ər]) no thicker(Not as wide [noʊ ˈθɪkər]) than a finger(Used as a comparison to emphasize the snake's thinness [ðən ə ˈfɪŋgər])..."
"But(A conjunction used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something previously said [bət]) I(Refers to the snake [aɪ]) am(A form of the verb 'to be', indicating a state of being [æm]) more powerful(Having greater strength or influence [mɔr ˈpaʊərfəl]) than(Used for comparison [ðən]) the finger(A digit of the hand [ðə ˈfɪŋgər]) of a king(Refers to the finger of a monarch, often associated with authority [əv ə kɪŋ])," said the snake(Attribution of the statement to the snake [sɛd ðə sneɪk]).
The(Definite article, referring to a specific prince already known or being introduced [ðə]) little(Small in size; young [ˈlɪtəl]) prince(A male member of a royal family, typically the son or grandson of a king or queen [prɪns]) smiled(To have expressed happiness, pleasure, or amusement by curving the lips upwards [smaɪld]).
"You(Second person singular pronoun, referring to the little prince [ju]) are(Present tense of the verb 'to be' [ər]) not(Negation [nɑt]) very(To a great degree; extremely [ˈvɛri]) powerful(Having great power or influence [ˈpaʊərfəl]). You(Second person singular pronoun, referring to the little prince [ju]) haven't(Contraction of 'have not' [ˈhævənt]) even(Used to emphasize something unexpected or surprising [ˈivɪn]) any(Some; one or some of a thing or number of things, no matter how small in amount [ˈɛni]) feet(Plural of 'foot'; the terminal part of the leg below the ankle, on which a person stands or walks [fit]). You(Second person singular pronoun, referring to the little prince [ju]) cannot(Cannot is used to express inability or impossibility [ˈkænɑt]) even(Used to emphasize something unexpected or surprising [ˈivɪn]) travel(To make a journey, typically of some length [ˈtrævəl])..."
"I(First person singular pronoun, referring to the snake [aɪ]) can(Expressing ability or possibility [kən]) carry(To support and move (someone or something) from one place to another [ˈkɛri]) you(Second person singular pronoun, referring to the little prince [ju]) farther(At or to a greater distance [ˈfɑrðər]) than(Used to introduce the second element in a comparison [ðən]) any(One or some of a thing or number of things, no matter how small in amount [ˈɛni]) ship(A large boat for transporting people or goods by sea [ʃɪp]) could(Past tense of 'can', expressing possibility or ability in the past [kʊd]) take(To transport or escort (someone) to a place [teɪk]) you(Second person singular pronoun, referring to the little prince [ju])," said(Past tense of 'say'; to utter words [sɛd]) the(Definite article, referring to a specific snake [ðə]) snake(A legless reptile [sneɪk]).