“The Ugly Duckling”


A children's story, told by Hans Christian Andersen. One young bird in a family of ducks is constantly mocked by the other ducks for his ugliness. Eventually, though, he grows up to be a swan — the most beautiful of all birds.

Notes for “The Ugly Duckling”

An “ugly duckling” is someone who blossoms beautifully after an unpromising beginning.

Words Nearby “The Ugly Duckling”

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.