German short stories for learners, A1 to B2

Contos has 45 German story series for learners, from A1 to B2, written in Germany German. One of them, Die WG in der Bergmannstraße, is written at all four levels, so there are 12 to choose from at A1, 12 at A2, 12 at B1 and 12 at B2. Chapters 1 and 2 of every series are free.

Series: 45
Chapters: 296 across all four levels
By level: A1 12 · A2 12 · B1 12 · B2 12
Genres: Six; mystery is the most common, then comedy
Settings: Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, the Black Forest, the Baltic and North Sea coasts
German: Germany German

Choosing your German level

German chapters get noticeably longer at each level. These are the word counts of the free chapters 1 and 2:

Counted from chapters 1–2 of every German series on Contos, with the flagship counted once at each level.
Level	Series	Words per chapter	Average
A1 Beginner	12	123–213	167
A2 Elementary	12	195–296	237
B1 Intermediate	12	240–362	292
B2 Upper intermediate	12	315–421	359

Length is only half of it. The flagship flatshare story, Die WG in der Bergmannstraße, is written separately for each level, and its opening shows what changes:

Lena sitzt in der Küche. Sie trinkt Kaffee und wartet.

Lena is sitting in the kitchen. She is drinking coffee and waiting.

A1, chapter 1: present tense, one action per sentence.

Lena war schon immer ordentlich.

Lena had always been tidy.

B1, chapter 1: the same character, now in the simple past (war), describing who she is rather than what she is doing.

If the A1 line reads easily and the B1 line takes a moment, start at A2.

German sentences that look harder than they are

The verb comes second

In a German main clause the verb is the second element, whatever comes first. So when a sentence opens with a time word, the subject moves behind the verb: Heute kommt der neue Mitbewohner! (The new flatmate arrives today!) Spot the verb, then look right for the subject.

Long words are short words joined up

German builds nouns by stacking them. In chapter 1 of Die WG alone you meet Mitbewohner (mit + Bewohner: a co-resident, so a flatmate), Badezimmertür (bathroom door) and Wohnzimmertür (living-room door). Split a long word at the joins and you often already know every part.

Every noun has a capital letter

German capitalises all nouns, which is a gift to readers: in Sie hat Kaffee und Brötchen, the two capitals tell you which words are things. Brötchen (bread rolls) is also a Germany German word; in Austria you would hear Semmel.

Start with the A1 German stories if you are new, or pick a genre from the filters above.

Frequently asked questions

Is it German from Germany, Austria or Switzerland?

Germany German. The series are set in German cities and towns, from Berlin and Munich to Amrum and the Black Forest; one B1 series takes the night train from Hamburg to Vienna.

Are the German stories free?

Chapters 1 and 2 of every series are free, in your browser or in the iPhone and iPad app. Chapters 3 onwards are part of Contos Premium, and a new series is added every week.

Which German story is best for beginners?

Try Die WG in der Bergmannstraße at A1, about three flatmates and a mysterious new arrival, or Wohnung 47, about a key that opens a door that shouldn't exist.

Do I need to know German grammar first?

No. A1 chapters use short present-tense sentences, so greetings, numbers and a few common verbs such as sein and haben are enough to begin. Tap any word you don't know and it is saved for your flashcards.