Polish · English · A1–A2

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

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

162 beginner stories in Polish, 124 of them free

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

The stories at this level come from First Stories, original Polish stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Linia 24, original Polish stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Prawdziwe życie, original Polish stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Easy Classics A2, original Polish stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Everyday Talk, original Polish stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Baśnie ludowe Azji, original Polish stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Summer at the Lemon House, original Polish stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Jasełka, original Polish stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Simple Stories, original Polish stories written for the library.

The stories at this level come from Nocna piekarnia, original Polish stories written for the library.

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

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

What beginner Polish 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 Polish 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 Polish. 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.