German · English · A1–A2

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

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

213 beginner stories in German, 175 of them free

Each one opens in your browser with no account, the German and the English side by side, paragraph by paragraph, shortest first. Every free 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).

The stories at this level come from Die blaue Tür, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Kinderleicht, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Linie 24, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Echtes Leben, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Klassiker leicht erzählt A2, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Alltagsgespräche, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Märchen aus Asien, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Sommer im Zitronenhaus, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Das Weihnachtsspiel, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Perfekt-Geschichten, original German stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Die Nachtbäckerei, original German stories written for the library.

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

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

What beginner German 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 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.