''They(Quotation marks indicating the beginning of someone's speech, followed by 'They', referring to a group of people or things previously mentioned [ðeɪ]) are good('are good' - expressing a positive opinion or assessment of the subject [ər gʊd]),'' he said(attribution of the preceding statement to a male speaker [hi sɛd]). ''They(Quotation marks indicating the continuation of someone's speech, followed by 'They', referring to the same group of people or things previously mentioned [ðeɪ]) play(engage in activities for enjoyment and recreation [pleɪ]) and(conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) make jokes(tell or create humorous stories or remarks [meɪk ʤoʊks]) and(conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) love one another(feel affection and care for each other [ləv wən əˈnəðər]). They(referring to the same group of people or things previously mentioned [ðeɪ]) are our brothers(related to us like siblings or close companions [ər ɑr ˈbrəðərz]) like(used to indicate a similarity or comparison [laɪk]) the flying fish(a type of fish that can leap out of the water and glide through the air, used as a simile to further describe the 'brothers' [ðə flaɪɪŋ fɪʃ)]).''
Then(at that time; after that [ðɛn]) he began(started to do something [hi bɪˈgæn]) to pity(to feel sorrow or compassion for someone or something [tɪ ˈpɪti]) the great fish(referring to a large fish [ðə greɪt fɪʃ]) that(relative pronoun referring back to 'the great fish' [ðət]) he had hooked(the act of catching the fish with a hook [hi hæd hʊkt]). He(referring to the fish [hi]) is wonderful(inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration [ɪz ˈwəndərfəl]) and(conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) strange(unusual or surprising; difficult to understand or explain [streɪnʤ]) and(conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) who knows(an expression indicating uncertainty or lack of knowledge [hu noʊz]) how old(referring to the age of the fish [haʊ oʊld]) he is(subject pronoun and verb indicating the fish's existence or state of being [hi ɪz]), he thought(internal monologue or reflection [hi θɔt]). Never(at no time in the past [ˈnɛvər]) have I had(past experience of the speaker [hæv aɪ hæd]) such a strong fish(a fish with great physical power [səʧ ə strɔŋ fɪʃ]) nor(and not; also not [nɔr]) one(referring back to 'fish' [wən]) who acted(behaved or conducted itself [hu ˈæktɪd]) so strangely(in an unusual or peculiar manner [soʊ ˈstreɪnʤli]). Perhaps(possibly; maybe [pərˈhæps]) he is(referring to the fish [hi ɪz]) too wise(having a high degree of intelligence and knowledge [tu waɪz]) to jump(to leap or spring into the air [tɪ ʤəmp]). He(referring to the fish [hi]) could ruin me(cause the speaker's downfall or destruction [kʊd ruɪn mi]) by jumping(the act of leaping or springing into the air [baɪ ˈʤəmpɪŋ]) or(used to link alternatives [ər]) by a wild rush(a sudden, forceful movement forward [baɪ ə waɪld rəʃ]). But(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]) perhaps(possibly; maybe [pərˈhæps]) he has been hooked(caught on a hook [hi həz bɪn hʊkt]) many times before(on numerous previous occasions [ˈmɛni taɪmz ˌbiˈfɔr]) and(conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) he knows(is aware of or understands [hi noʊz]) that(introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]) this(referring to the current situation or action [ðɪs]) is how(in what manner or way [ɪz haʊ]) he should make(how the fish ought to conduct [hi ʃʊd meɪk]) his fight(the fish's struggle against being caught [hɪz faɪt]). He(referring to the fish [hi]) cannot know(is unable to understand or be aware of [ˈkænɑt noʊ]) that(introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]) it(referring to the situation [ɪt]) is only(merely; just [ɪz ˈoʊnli]) one man(a single human being [wən mæn]) against him(in opposition to the fish [əˈgɛnst ɪm]), nor(and not; also not [nɔr]) that(introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]) it(referring to the man [ɪt]) is an old man(a man of advanced age [ɪz ən oʊld mæn]). But(used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or contradicts something that has been said previously [bət]) what a great fish(an expression of admiration for the size and quality of the fish [wət ə greɪt fɪʃ]) he is(subject pronoun and verb indicating the fish's existence or state of being [hi ɪz]) and(conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) what(used to ask for specification of something [wət]) will he bring(what value or profit will the fish yield [wɪl hi brɪŋ]) in the market(the place where goods are bought and sold [ɪn ðə ˈmɑrkɪt]) if(introduces a conditional clause [ɪf]) the flesh(the meat of the fish [ðə flɛʃ]) is good(of high quality and suitable for consumption [ɪz gʊd]). He(referring to the fish [hi]) took the bait(swallowed the lure used to attract the fish [tʊk ðə beɪt]) like a male(in a manner characteristic of a male, implying strength and aggression [laɪk ə meɪl]) and(conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) he pulls(exerts force when being reeled in [hi pʊlz]) like a male(in a manner characteristic of a male, implying strength and aggression [laɪk ə meɪl]) and(conjunction connecting two or more words, phrases, or clauses [ənd]) his fight(the fish's struggle against being caught [hɪz faɪt]) has no panic(does not show fear or desperation [həz noʊ ˈpænɪk]) in it(contained within the fish's actions [ɪn ɪt]). I wonder(to be curious or in doubt about something [aɪ ˈwəndər]) if(introduces a clause expressing doubt or uncertainty [ɪf]) he has(referring to the fish [hi həz]) any plans(a detailed proposal for doing or achieving something [ˈɛni plænz]) or(used to link alternatives [ər]) if(introduces a clause expressing doubt or uncertainty [ɪf]) he is(referring to the fish [hi ɪz]) just as desperate(in a state of hopelessness leading to recklessness [ʤɪst ɛz ˈdɛspərɪt]) as I am(comparing the fish's desperation to the speaker's own [ɛz aɪ æm])?
He(Refers to the old man, the protagonist of the story [hi]) remembered(Recalled something from the past [rɪˈmɛmbərd]) the time(A specific instance or period in the past [ðə taɪm]) he had hooked(He had caught with a hook and line [hi hæd hʊkt]) one of a pair of marlin(One fish from a couple of marlin fish [wən əv ə pɛr əv ˈmɑrlɪn]). The male fish(Referring to the male marlin [ðə meɪl fɪʃ]) always(In every instance; without exception [ˈɔlˌweɪz]) let(Allowed [lɛt]) the female fish(Referring to the female marlin [ðə ˈfiˌmeɪl fɪʃ]) feed first(Eat before the male [fid fərst]) and(Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]) the hooked fish(The fish that was caught on the hook [ðə hʊkt fɪʃ]), the female(Clarifies that the hooked fish was the female [ðə ˈfiˌmeɪl]), made(Performed; executed [meɪd]) a wild, panic-stricken, despairing fight(A desperate struggle filled with fear and hopelessness [ə waɪld panic-stricken dɪˈspɛrɪŋ faɪt]) that(Refers back to the fight [ðət]) soon(Quickly; before long [sun]) exhausted her(Tired her out completely [ɪgˈzɔstɪd hər]), and(Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]) all the time(Throughout the entire period [ɔl ðə taɪm]) the male(Referring to the male marlin [ðə meɪl]) had stayed(Remained; continued to be [hæd steɪd]) with her(Alongside the female marlin [wɪθ hər]), crossing the line(Swimming across the fishing line [ˈkrɔsɪŋ ðə laɪn]) and(Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]) circling with her(Swimming in circles around the female [ˈsərkəlɪŋ wɪθ hər]) on the surface(At the top of the water [ɔn ðə ˈsərfəs]). He had stayed(The male marlin had remained [hi hæd steɪd]) so close(In close proximity [soʊ kloʊz]) that(Indicates a consequence [ðət]) the old man(Referring to the protagonist fisherman [ðə oʊld mæn]) was afraid(Felt fear or concern [wɑz əˈfreɪd]) he would cut(The male marlin would sever [hi wʊd kət]) the line(The fishing line [ðə laɪn]) with his tail(Using his tail [wɪθ hɪz teɪl]) which was sharp as a scythe(The tail was as sharp as a tool used for cutting grass [wɪʧ wɑz ʃɑrp ɛz ə sɪθ]) and(Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]) almost of that size and shape(Nearly the same size and shape as a scythe [ˈɔlˌmoʊst əv ðət saɪz ənd ʃeɪp]). When(At the time that [wɪn]) the old man(Referring to the protagonist fisherman [ðə oʊld mæn]) had gaffed her(Had used a gaff (hook) to pull the female marlin [hæd gaffed hər]) and clubbed her(Struck the female marlin with a club [ənd kləbd hər]), holding the rapier bill(Grasping the sword-like bill of the marlin [ˈhoʊldɪŋ ðə ˈreɪpiər bɪl]) with its sandpaper edge(The bill had a rough edge like sandpaper [wɪθ ɪts ˈsændˌpeɪpər ɛʤ]) and dubbing her(Striking her lightly [ənd ˈdəbɪŋ hər]) across the top of her head(On the upper part of her head [əˈkrɔs ðə tɔp əv hər hɛd]) until(Up to the point that [ənˈtɪl]) her colour turned(The colour of the fish changed [hər ˈkələr tərnd]) to a colour almost like the backing of mirrors(The colour became similar to the reflective backing of a mirror [tɪ ə ˈkələr ˈɔlˌmoʊst laɪk ðə ˈbækɪŋ əv ˈmɪrərz]), and then(Following that [ənd ðɛn]), with the boy's aid(With the help of the boy [wɪθ ðə bɔɪz eɪd]), hoisted her aboard(Lifted the female marlin onto the boat [ˈhɔɪstɪd hər əˈbɔrd]), the male fish(Referring to the male marlin [ðə meɪl fɪʃ]) had stayed(Remained [hæd steɪd]) by the side of the boat(Next to the boat [baɪ ðə saɪd əv ðə boʊt]). Then(After that [ðɛn]), while(During the time that [waɪl]) the old man(Referring to the protagonist fisherman [ðə oʊld mæn]) was clearing the lines(Was untangling and preparing the fishing lines [wɑz ˈklɪrɪŋ ðə laɪnz]) and preparing the harpoon(Getting the harpoon ready [ənd pərˈpɛrɪŋ ðə hɑrˈpun]), the male fish(Referring to the male marlin [ðə meɪl fɪʃ]) jumped high into the air(Leapt out of the water [ʤəmpt haɪ ˈɪntu ðə ɛr]) beside the boat(Near the boat [ˌbiˈsaɪd ðə boʊt]) to see(In order to see [tɪ si]) where the female was(The location of the female marlin [wɛr ðə ˈfiˌmeɪl wɑz]) and then(Following that [ənd ðɛn]) went down deep(Descended into the deep water [wɛnt daʊn dip]), his lavender wings(Referring to his pectoral fins, described as lavender in colour [hɪz ˈlævəndər wɪŋz]), that were his pectoral fins(Clarifying that the lavender wings are the pectoral fins [ðət wər hɪz ˈpɛktərəl fɪnz]), spread wide(Extended fully [sprɛd waɪd]) and(Connects two parts of the sentence [ənd]) all his wide lavender stripes(All of his broad, light purple stripes [ɔl hɪz waɪd ˈlævəndər straɪps]) showing(Visible [ʃoʊɪŋ]). He was beautiful(The male marlin was attractive [hi wɑz ˈbjutəfəl]), the old man remembered(The protagonist fisherman recalled [ðə oʊld mæn rɪˈmɛmbərd]), and he had stayed(And the male marlin had remained [ənd hi hæd steɪd]).