Italian · English · A1–A2

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

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

211 beginner stories in Italian, 173 of them free

Each one opens in your browser with no account, the Italian and the English side by side, paragraph by paragraph, shortest first. Every free story is also a free Italian–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 porta blu, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Prime storie, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Linea 24, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Vita vera, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Classici facili A2, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Conversazioni quotidiane, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Fiabe popolari dell'Asia, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Estate alla casa dei limoni, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from La recita di Natale, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Storie semplici, original Italian stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Il forno di notte, original Italian stories written for the library.

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

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

What beginner Italian 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 Italian 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 Italian. 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.