English Stories for BeginnersCEFR A1 Level
A1 English stories are designed for absolute beginners. Each story uses basic vocabulary (around 300 words), simple present tense, and short sentences. Perfect if you're just starting to learn English. Click any word or sentence for instant translation. These stories typically take 1-3 minutes to read and help you build foundational vocabulary through context.
112 stories available • Page 1 of 7
Birthday Party
A child celebrates their eighth birthday with family and friends. Their mother makes a chocolate cake and father decorates with balloons. Friends arrive with presents and they play games in the garden. Everyone sings Happy Birthday, the child makes a wish and blows out the candles. They receive a book and a toy car as gifts.
Christmas Morning
Six-year-old Tom wakes up early on Christmas morning to find snow outside and presents under the tree. He opens his gifts, including a red toy car, and enjoys a special breakfast with his family. When grandma and grandpa arrive, it becomes the best day of the year.
The Easter Egg Hunt
Emma and Max wake up excited on Easter Sunday. After breakfast, they hunt for colorful eggs hidden in the garden by their parents. Emma finds six eggs and Max finds five. Dad tells them there is one more egg to find. Max discovers a big golden egg full of chocolate on a bench. The children share the chocolate and celebrate the best Easter ever.
Halloween Night
Emma and her brother Tom celebrate Halloween. Emma dresses as a witch with a black dress and hat, while Tom is a vampire with a cape. They go trick-or-treating with their father, collecting candy from neighbors. After visiting many houses, they return home with bags full of sweets and share their excitement about the best night of the year.
Baking a Cake
Anna and her mother bake a cake together on Sunday. They mix flour, sugar, eggs, and butter in a big bowl. After putting the cake in the oven for thirty minutes, it comes out golden brown. Anna adds chocolate on top, and they both agree the cake is delicious.
Cooking Dinner
Dad and Mia cook dinner together on a Saturday evening. They make pasta with tomatoes, peppers, and cheese. Mia learns to cut vegetables carefully while Dad explains each step. When the meal is ready, the whole family enjoys it together.
Making Pizza
Tom decides to make pizza at home. He prepares the dough with flour, water, and yeast, then shapes it and adds tomato sauce, lots of cheese, and vegetables. After baking it in the hot oven for fifteen minutes, he enjoys his delicious homemade pizza.
Weekend Brunch
Emma wakes up on Sunday and decides to make brunch for her family. She prepares pancakes, eggs, and fruit. Her mother helps her cut the strawberries and bananas. When the whole family gathers at the table, everyone enjoys the delicious meal and thanks Emma for the wonderful surprise.
Making Breakfast
Anna wakes up hungry and goes to the kitchen to make breakfast. She takes eggs and butter from the refrigerator and cooks scrambled eggs in a pan. While the eggs cook, she makes toast and pours orange juice. Anna enjoys her delicious breakfast at the table, then washes the dishes before starting her day.
The Shopping List
Anna wants to cook dinner for her family, so she writes a shopping list. She needs pasta, tomatoes, onion, garlic, cheese, milk, eggs, bread, and fruit. She walks to the supermarket, finds everything on her list, and pays fifteen euros. Back home, she is ready to cook a nice meal.
Two Friends Planning
Maria calls her friend Julia to make weekend plans. They decide to go to the cinema to see a new comedy and have dinner at an Italian restaurant before the movie. They agree to meet at four thirty at the bus stop near Julia's house on Saturday.
Customer and Waiter
A man visits a restaurant and orders dinner. The waiter brings him the menu, takes his order for soup, fish with rice, and water. The man enjoys his meal and pays the bill, complimenting the excellent food.
Student and Teacher
Tom is a student who doesn't understand a math problem. He asks his kind teacher, Mrs. Smith, for help. She explains that the problem is about adding numbers and uses apples as an example. Tom learns that 12 plus 8 equals 20. He thanks his teacher and goes back to his desk, happy that he asked for help.
Asking About the Menu
Anna visits a small restaurant and asks the waiter about the menu. She orders tomato soup, grilled chicken with rice and salad, and orange juice. The waiter is helpful and answers all her questions. Anna enjoys her delicious meal and thanks the waiter before leaving.
Shopkeeper and Customer
Tom visits a small local shop to buy groceries. The friendly shopkeeper greets him and helps him find everything he needs. He buys milk, eggs, and fresh bread. After paying with a ten euro note and receiving his change, he leaves the shop happy with his purchases.
Introducing Yourself
Anna is nervous on her first day at a new school. She meets Tom, who asks her name, age, and hobbies. When the teacher asks Anna to introduce herself to the class, she tells everyone she is from Berlin and likes reading and drawing. The class welcomes her warmly, and Anna sits next to her new friend Tom.
Apologizing for Being Late
Tom is late for a meeting with his friend Sarah at a coffee shop. He takes the bus but gets stuck in traffic. He sends a message to apologize, and Sarah tells him not to worry. When Tom arrives, he apologizes again. Sarah is understanding and has already ordered coffee. They enjoy their time together and Tom promises to be on time next time.
Asking the Time
Anna is new in the city and needs to catch a bus. She asks strangers for the time because her phone is dead. She learns useful phrases for asking and telling the time while getting to the bus stop on time.