Deutsch · English · A1–A2
Easy German short stories with English translation (A1–A2)
Fables, fairy tales and short legends in German, with the English beside every paragraph. Short enough to finish in one sitting, simple enough for your first months of German.
76 free easy stories in German
Each one opens in your browser with no account, the German and the English side by side, paragraph by paragraph, shortest first. Every story is also a free German–English ebook for Kindle, Kobo or any e-reader: downloading needs a free account, no payment (which file to pick).
Besides the classics, this level has stories from Perfekt-Geschichten, original German stories written for the library.
DE
Die Krähe und der Krug
Aesop
The Crow and the Pitcher
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Der Bauer und der Storch
Aesop
The Farmer and the Stork
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Der Wolf im Schafspelz
Aesop
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Der Hund und das Stück Fleisch
Aesop
The Dog and His Reflection
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Die Gans mit den goldenen Eiern
Aesop
The Goose and the Golden Egg
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Der Löwe und der Esel
Aesop
The Lion and the Ass
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Der Wolf und der Kranich
Aesop
The Wolf and the Crane
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Der Hase und seine Ohren
Aesop
The Hare and His Ears
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Die Eiche und die Schilfrohre
Aesop
The Oak and the Reeds
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Das Bündel Stöcke
Aesop
The Bundle of Sticks
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Das Milchmädchen und sein Eimer
Aesop
The Milkmaid and Her Pail
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Der alte Großvater und der Enkel
Brothers Grimm
The Old Man and His Grandson
A1Brothers Grimm · German · 5 min
DE
Der Fuchs und der Storch
Aesop
The Fox and the Stork
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Der Fuchs und der Rabe
Aesop
The Fox and the Crow
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Die Frösche, die sich einen König wünschten
Aesop
The Frogs Who Wished for a King
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Der Hirtenjunge und der Wolf
Aesop
The Boy Who Cried Wolf
A1Aesop · German · 5 min
DE
Winzig-klein
Joseph Jacobs
Teeny-Tiny
A1Joseph Jacobs · German · 5 min
DE
Die drei Männer von Gotham
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
Three Men of Gotham
A1James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Diogenes der Weise
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
Diogenes the Wise Man
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Bruce und die Spinne
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
Bruce and the Spider
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Die Prinzessin auf der Erbse
Hans Christian Andersen
The Princess and the Pea
A2Hans Christian Andersen · German · 5 min
DE
Die tapferen Dreihundert
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Brave Three Hundred
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Alexander und Bukephalos
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
Alexander and Bucephalus
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
König Knut am Meeresstrand
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
King Canute on the Seashore
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Die blinden Männer und der Elefant
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Blind Men and the Elephant
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Die Geschichte von Wilhelm Tell
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Story of William Tell
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Damon und Pythias
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
Damon and Pythias
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Das Damoklesschwert
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Sword of Damocles
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
König Alfred und die Kuchen
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
King Alfred and the Cakes
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Die unendliche Geschichte
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Endless Tale
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Henne-Penne
Joseph Jacobs
Henny-Penny
A1Joseph Jacobs · German · 5 min
DE
Androklus und der Löwe
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
Androclus and the Lion
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Die alte Frau und ihr Schweinchen
Joseph Jacobs
The Old Woman and Her Pig
A1Joseph Jacobs · German · 5 min
DE
Fauler Hans
Joseph Jacobs
Lazy Jack
A2Joseph Jacobs · German · 5 min
DE
Horatius an der Brücke
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
Horatius at the Bridge
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Die Wichtelmänner
Brothers Grimm
The Elves and the Shoemaker
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 5 min
DE
Mausi und Tausi
Joseph Jacobs
Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse
A1Joseph Jacobs · German · 5 min
DE
Das Weiße Schiff
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The White Ship
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Johnny-Cake
Joseph Jacobs
Johnny-Cake
A2Joseph Jacobs · German · 5 min
DE
Die Geschichte von den zwei bösen Mäusen
Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Two Bad Mice
A2Beatrix Potter · German · 5 min
DE
Die Geschichte von Peter Hase
Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Peter Rabbit
A2Beatrix Potter · German · 5 min
DE
Die drei kleinen Schweinchen
Joseph Jacobs
The Story of the Three Little Pigs
A2Joseph Jacobs · German · 5 min
DE
Das kleine Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern
Hans Christian Andersen
The Little Match Girl
A2Hans Christian Andersen · German · 5 min
DE
Der Wolf und die sieben jungen Geißlein
Brothers Grimm
The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 5 min
DE
Die wunderbare Weberin
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Wonderful Weaver
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 5 min
DE
Die Geschichte von Benjamin Kaninchen
Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Benjamin Bunny
A2Beatrix Potter · German · 5 min
DE
Die Sintflut
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Flood
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 10 min
DE
Rumpelstilzchen
Brothers Grimm
Rumpelstiltskin
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 10 min
DE
Die Rübe
Brothers Grimm
The Turnip
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 10 min
DE
Der Froschkönig oder der eiserne Heinrich
Brothers Grimm
The Frog-Prince
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 10 min
DE
König Johann und der Abt
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
King John and the Abbot
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 10 min
DE
Die Geschichte von Jemima Pratschel-Watschel
Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck
A2Beatrix Potter · German · 10 min
DE
Frau Holle
Brothers Grimm
Mother Holle
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 10 min
DE
Die Glocke von Atri
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Bell of Atri
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 10 min
DE
Die drei Einfaltspinsel
Joseph Jacobs
The Three Sillies
A2Joseph Jacobs · German · 10 min
DE
Die drei Bären
Joseph Jacobs
The Story of the Three Bears
A2Joseph Jacobs · German · 10 min
DE
Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten
Brothers Grimm
The Travelling Musicians
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 10 min
DE
Rotkäppchen
Brothers Grimm
Little Red-Cap
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 10 min
DE
Rapunzel
Brothers Grimm
Rapunzel
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 10 min
DE
Seite 47
DuoText
Page 47
A2Perfekt-Geschichten · German · 10 min
DE
Dornröschen
Brothers Grimm
Briar Rose
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 10 min
DE
Drei Fragen
Leo Tolstoy
Three Questions
A2Leo Tolstoy · German · 10 min
DE
Die goldene Gans
Brothers Grimm
The Golden Goose
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 10 min
DE
Des Kaisers neue Kleider
Hans Christian Andersen
The Emperor’s New Clothes
A2Hans Christian Andersen · German · 10 min
DE
Der selbstsüchtige Riese
Oscar Wilde
The Selfish Giant
A2Oscar Wilde · German · 10 min
DE
Die Geschichte der Io
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Story of Io
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 10 min
DE
Die grüne Tür
DuoText
The Green Door
A2Perfekt-Geschichten · German · 10 min
DE
Zettel im Treppenhaus
DuoText
Notes in the Stairwell
A2Perfekt-Geschichten · German · 15 min
DE
Der wunderbare Handwerker
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Wonderful Artisan
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 15 min
DE
Der Hund um 8:15 Uhr
DuoText
The 8:15 Dog
A2Perfekt-Geschichten · German · 15 min
DE
Der graue Koffer
DuoText
The Grey Suitcase
A2Perfekt-Geschichten · German · 15 min
DE
Hans im Glück
Brothers Grimm
Hans in Luck
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 15 min
DE
Die Geschichte des Prometheus
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
The Story of Prometheus
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 15 min
DE
Kadmos und Europa
James Baldwin (1841–1925)
Cadmus and Europa
A2James Baldwin (1841–1925) · German · 20 min
DE
Hänsel und Gretel
Brothers Grimm
Hansel and Gretel
A2Brothers Grimm · German · 20 min
DE
Das Samtkaninchen
Margery Williams
The Velveteen Rabbit
A2Margery Williams · German · 25 min
What easy German stories are like
The easiest stories are Aesop’s fables and old nursery tales: a few hundred words each, a handful of characters, and plots you may already know from childhood. Knowing the story frees your attention for the German.
A step up are the Grimm and Andersen fairy tales and short legends from history (William Tell, the Sword of Damocles, King Canute). They repeat the same sentence patterns, which is exactly what a beginner needs to see many times over.
How to read German 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 German. 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.