French · English · A1–A2

Easy French short stories for beginners, with English translation (A1–A2)

Short stories written in simple French for learners, with the English beside every paragraph. Short enough to finish in one sitting, simple enough for your first months of French.

213 beginner stories in French, 175 of them free

Each one opens in your browser with no account, the French and the English side by side, paragraph by paragraph, shortest first. Every free story is also a free French–English ebook for Kindle, Kobo or any e-reader: downloading needs a free account, no payment (which file to pick).

The stories at this level come from La porte bleue, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Premières histoires, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Ligne 24, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from La vraie vie, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Classiques faciles A2, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Conversations du quotidien, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Contes populaires d'Asie, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Un été à la maison des citrons, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from La Pièce de Noël, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Histoires simples, original French stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from La Boulangerie de nuit, original French stories written for the library.

Open the beginner French–English stories in the library, where you can search them and switch to another level or pair.

To listen as you read, see the French stories with audio.

What beginner French stories are like

These stories are written for the level, not translated down to it: everyday settings, short sentences, the words a beginner meets first, and a plot worth finishing.

The classics start at B1. Even a short fable becomes full, old-fashioned prose once translated, so the fables and fairy tales sit one level up, as the first step after these.

How to read French at A1–A2

Read the English first if you need to

At A1 there is no shame in reading a paragraph in English, then the French. You are matching words to meaning, and the paragraph beside it makes that quick.

Finish, then reread

Read the whole story once, glancing across whenever you are lost. The second time, cover the English and look only when you are stuck. Most readers are surprised how much stayed.

Collect a few words, not every word

Pick three or four words per story that keep coming back and learn those. The rest will return in the next story.

More on the method in how to read a parallel text.