German English bilingual stories (2026)

German English

400 bilingual texts
in German and English – short stories, grammar collections and everyday dialogues, more than 5,000 sentences in total.
Every sentence translated side by side
show or hide German or English, or reveal the translation only when you tap on it.
Six language levels, clearly sorted
A1 to C2 – you know straight away which texts to start with.
Read wherever you like
in your browser on PC, tablet or smartphone. No app, no installation.
Pay once, no subscription
no follow-up costs, instant access by email.

Order all 400 texts now »

Three types of text in one package:

The 400 texts combine topics, styles and functions – so you get to know every side of German:

150 short stories to build your vocabulary
Each story on one concrete topic – family, travel, work, hobbies. So you learn words not in isolation, but in real context.

100 grammar collections with example sentences
Instead of dry rules, dozens of concrete sentences per topic – tenses, cases, pronouns. Read and absorb instead of cramming.

150 true-to-life everyday dialogues
At the restaurant, at the doctor, at the hotel, at the airport – conversations the way they really happen. The German you need for real life.

Why bilingual texts make you fluent faster than vocabulary lists:

Vocabulary lists give you words. Bilingual texts give you language as it is really used – in sentence structure, in rhythm, in everyday life. Eight reasons why these 400 texts do more for your German than the next vocabulary app:

Vocabulary in context

Instead of isolated lists, you see every word in a concrete situation – together with the words that typically stand next to it. So you learn not just the word, but how it is used. That is exactly why the right German word comes to mind when you need it.

150 everyday dialogues

150 true-to-life conversations – at the restaurant, at the doctor, at the hotel, at the airport, making small talk. This is how you learn the German that is actually spoken – not the textbook version no one uses in everyday life.

Grammar through examples

100 thematic sentence collections each deepen one grammar chapter – with dozens of concrete examples instead of abstract rules. Once you have read thirty subjunctive sentences, you no longer need to look up the rule.

Idiomatic expressions

Expressions that never appear in a textbook but come up in every conversation are right there with their English translation. These are exactly the phrases you need so your German sounds like a native speaker, not like a textbook.

Confident comprehension

The English translation always sits next to the German sentence – revealed on tap or permanently visible. You understand every sentence without a dictionary and without frustration. That is the difference between giving up and reading on.

3 minutes per text

Every text is designed to be read in three minutes. No hour-long study sessions – just small, clearly finished portions you read a little of every day. Exactly the frequency your memory needs.

Clearly sorted by level

A1 to C2 – you know straight away where to start. Once you have learned 600 words, you begin with A1 and climb level by level. More than 800 sentences per level – enough material to feel solid at each level before you move up.

Reading speed grows measurably

For the first few texts, you may need the English translation sentence by sentence. After 50 texts, only now and then. After 200, not at all – you read German the way you read English. That transition is something you can clearly feel.

All features – right in your browser:

Switchable display

German only, English only, both side by side – or the translation hidden and revealed on tap.

Adjust the font size

Larger or smaller with a single tap – ideal for every display and every reading habit.

Clickable table of contents

An interactive table of contents across all 400 texts. One click – and you are at the topic, grammar collection or everyday dialogue you want.

On every device

PC, tablet, smartphone – all in the browser. No app, no e-reader, no installation.

Swap the order

You decide whether German is on top and English below – or the other way round. Once you read more confidently, you flip the order and start with the German sentence.

Set bookmarks

Mark texts you want to come back to – a tricky dialogue, an important grammar collection, a favourite story. One click and you are back there.

Dark mode for the evening

A bright reading mode during the day, a dark mode for relaxed reading at night. Easy on the eyes and ideal for long reading sessions in bed.

Synced across all devices

Carry on reading on your tablet what you started on your PC in the morning – your reading progress stays in sync. One login, all devices.

How to find the right level:

Use your vocabulary as a guide. Each level holds more than 800 sentences – enough material to feel solid before you move one step up:

Over 600 German vocabulary words learned → Level A1
Over 1,300 German vocabulary words learned → Level A2
Over 2,100 German vocabulary words learned → Level B1
Over 3,000 German vocabulary words learned → Level B2
Over 4,000 German vocabulary words learned → Level C1
Over 5,000 German vocabulary words learned → Level C2

What readers say:

A few responses from different language levels – a representative sample of the many emails we receive from readers in their first few weeks.

“Three minutes per text – that fits into my morning coffee routine. I have read one A1 text every day for eight weeks, and I already notice that words come far more easily in the vocabulary trainer, because I had seen them in a sentence first.”

Sarah C., 49
Learner at A1
daily routine

“The 150 everyday dialogues are worth their weight in gold. On my last holiday I was able to order in a restaurant for the first time without freezing up – simply because I had read exactly that situation as a text ten times before.”

Michael H., 56
Learner at A2
holiday-ready

“I used to learn with vocabulary apps – but knowing words is not the same as being able to use them. The grammar collections were the decisive step. Suddenly I understand how German is really built.”

Julia R., 34
Learner at B1
finally speaking

“I was sceptical whether I could still pick up a new language at 68. But when you can reveal the translation with a single tap, the pressure is gone. I now read B1 texts and understand most of it the first time round.”

Edgar M., 68
Learner at B1
started late

“What I like best is the clear sorting by level. At A2 I noticed I still had a gap – so I went back to A1, read those texts again, and then moved on. That is how learning works, without overwhelming yourself.”

Patricia T., 41
Learner at B2
levels just right

“Two texts on the train in the morning and two in the evening – that is enough. After four months I have worked through almost all the B1 texts and I feel that German now sounds like a language, not like vocabulary.”

Christopher B., 38
Commuter · B1
learns on the commute

Frequently asked questions:

Is this a subscription? How long do I have access?
This is not a subscription. You pay once – there are no follow-up costs. We guarantee you 10 years of online access to your texts.
How does the 31-day guarantee work?
Test your 400 texts risk-free for 31 days. If you are not completely satisfied, send us a short email – and we will refund you 100% of the purchase price. No ifs, ands or buts.
When do I get access after purchase?
Immediately. After successful payment you automatically receive an email with your personal access link. You can start reading right away.
Do I have to install anything or own an e-reader?
No. You read all texts directly in your browser – on PC, tablet or smartphone. No app, no e-reader, no installation.
Which language level are the texts for?
The 400 texts are sorted by language level (A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2). Beginners start with the A1 texts (around 600 learned words are enough), advanced learners move up step by step to longer and more complex texts. More than 800 sentences are waiting for you at each level.
Who wrote the texts?
The texts were created by native-speaking linguists who have a deep understanding of the needs of language learners.
Do I get an invoice with VAT shown?
Yes, you receive an invoice with VAT shown.

We will be happy to answer any further questions here.

You are protected by our 31-day money-back guarantee: Read the first texts at your leisure. If you are not convinced within 31 days that your German has taken a leap forward, send us a short email – and you get the full purchase price back. No ifs, ands or buts.

What you get after ordering: Your personal login by email straight away · all 400 texts readable immediately · 10 years of online access · on PC, tablet and smartphone.

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Instant access

No subscription

Order your German-English stories here:

You receive 400 bilingual texts in three categories:

150 short stories

On concrete topics such as family, travel, work and hobbies – ideal for building vocabulary.

100 grammar collections

Dozens of example sentences per collection on one grammar chapter – tenses, cases, pronouns.

150 everyday dialogues

At the restaurant, at the doctor, at the airport – the German that is really spoken.

Over 5,000 sentences · all 6 language levels A1 to C2 · every sentence translated side by side · 3 minutes per text

You are protected by our money-back guarantee:

Test the language course without any risk.
If you are not completely satisfied, we will refund 100% of the purchase price.
No questions asked.

Select your course here:

Secure Order:

Yes, I have read the conditions of sales and use, the privacy policy and the return policy and I agree to them.

Money-back guarantee:
You can cancel your purchase at any time during the first 31 days and get a full refund of your money.

You will receive the software as an online course:

Start your learning instantly!
You don't have to install anything, you learn online.
The online course works with Windows, Mac OS and Linux, on iPhone and Android smartphones, on iPad and Android tablets.
Access to the online course is valid for 10 years.
You can cancel your purchase at any time during the first 31 days and get your money back.
Already, over 540,000 learners have mastered a new language using 17 Minute Languages.
All prices include VAT.

What makes this language course stand out from the rest?

Swift progress:

This software program will make learning German fun and easy in breathtaking time.

Sophisticated software:

We first released this software in 2002.
Each year, our developers meticulously update it with utmost care to detail.

Different daily activities:

Varied daily tasks and a huge selection of learning methods will motivate you to continue learning every day.

Unique learning methods:

With the long-term memory learning method and daily tasks tailored to you, you will learn German in record time.

No subscription model:

Your access is valid for 10 years, you only pay once.

Exclusive learning community:

Establish ties with like-minded individuals within our learning community.

“400 bilingual stories from A1 to C2 –
at last I understand German the way it is really spoken.”

What you get:

Three types of text in one package: