Learn German by reading
Authentic German texts leveled A1 to C1 — with paragraph-by-paragraph English translations. Written by a native speaker in Germany. Read at your level, every day.
Every level includes free texts — no account required.
Short everyday scenes. Simple vocabulary, present tense.
Familiar topics and routines. Growing sentence variety.
Opinions, experiences, events. Real-world German.
Current affairs and culture. Nuanced, natural language.
Complex ideas and subtle expression. Near-native reading.
No account needed. Just pick a text and start reading.
Peter – Teacher in Berlin
Peter grew up in Zürich but has lived in Berlin for three years. Read about his family, work, and daily life.
Julia and Peter went to Mallorca
Julia and Peter spend a week on the island — sun, beach, the Ballermann, and a rainy Sunday.
Anna's Arrival at the Hotel
Anna checks into Hotel Zentral and asks the receptionist everything she needs to know — breakfast, Wi-Fi, and check-out time.
Anna invites Ben to her birthday party
Anna calls her friend Ben to invite him to her birthday party. A natural everyday dialogue.
Arrival in Berlin
Anna arrives in Berlin for the first time — tired from the journey but excited for what lies ahead. She finds her apartment, navigates her first supermarket visit, and ends her first day with a quiet bowl of pasta and a sense of possibility.
Environmental Protection in Everyday Life
What can each of us do to protect the environment? This text looks at simple everyday actions — from reducing plastic to cycling instead of driving.
Germans and Their Clubs
Germany has around 600,000 clubs — and nearly every second German is a member. What's behind this club culture, and why are clubs a real insider tip for newcomers?
The 4-Day Week: Less Work, More Success?
A corporate manager and a factory owner debate the four-day working week — does it boost productivity and wellbeing, or is it a financial risk businesses cannot afford?
Travel and Mass Tourism: Can You Still Holiday Abroad with a Clear Conscience?
Cheap flights and the internet have made travel easier than ever — but at what cost to the planet and local communities?
Working from Home vs. Office Attendance: The Pros and Cons of Flexible Work
Since the pandemic reshaped the office, employers and employees have been fighting over where work should actually happen.
Du or Sie? A Country Grapples with How to Address Each Other
A commentary on Germany's ongoing struggle between du and Sie — and why switching between the two might be the real skill.
More Than Just Profit? (Part 1): Regulation and the DACH Model
Part 1 of a two-part report: how Corporate Social Responsibility became a legal duty in the DACH region — and what sets German business culture apart.
Twilight of the Experts: On the Waning Trust in Science
Never has scientific knowledge been so available — and never has trust in research been so contested.
On the Luxury of Boredom
An essay on the disappearance of boredom in the smartphone age — and why we might be worse off without it.
Written by a native speaker living in Germany — not translated from English, not simplified to the point of being artificial.
Each paragraph has its own English translation you can reveal or hide. Read in German first, then check — as much or as little as you need.
You can read free texts at A1 all the way to C1. Premium unlocks more texts and audio. No level is locked behind a paywall.
Premium access unlocks all texts at every level — starting from €4.92/month.
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