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7 Spanish reading texts for A1, with translation

Short Spanish texts for level A1: 7 stories, about 34 minutes of reading. Every sentence carries its English translation, and each text ends with comprehension questions. Read them right here — no sign-up needed.

At a café in Madrid

A1 · 4 min

Sofía es una estudiante de intercambio en Madrid.
Sofia is an exchange student in Madrid.

Conoce a Mateo en su clase de español.
She meets Mateo in her Spanish class.

Mateo es de Madrid y conoce la ciudad muy bien.
Mateo is from Madrid and knows the city very well.

Un día, Mateo invita a Sofía a un café en el centro de la ciudad.
One day, Mateo invites Sofia to a café in the city center.

Sofía está emocionada de probar un café español auténtico.
Sofia is excited to try authentic Spanish coffee.

En el café, Sofía y Mateo hablan sobre sus planes para el fin de semana.
At the café, Sofia and Mateo talk about their plans for the weekend.

Sofía quiere visitar el Museo del Prado, pero Mateo sugiere ir a un parque.
Sofia wants to visit the Prado Museum, but Mateo suggests going to a park.

Al final, deciden hacer ambas cosas.
In the end, they decide to do both.

Check yourself

  1. Where does Sofia meet Mateo?
    Show answer

    In her Spanish class

  2. What does Sofia want to try at the café?
    Show answer

    Authentic Spanish coffee

  3. What do Sofia and Mateo decide to do in the end?
    Show answer

    Do both

A Train Trip to Barcelona

A1 · 5 min

Sofia y Mateo van en el tren a Barcelona.
Sofia and Mateo are going by train to Barcelona.

Sofia es estudiante de intercambio en Madrid.
Sofia is an exchange student in Madrid.

Mateo es su amigo español.
Mateo is her Spanish friend.

Quieren visitar la Sagrada Familia.
They want to visit the Sagrada Familia.

El tren es muy cómodo.
The train is very comfortable.

Sofia y Mateo están muy emocionados.
Sofia and Mateo are very excited.

Van a disfrutar de la ciudad.
They are going to enjoy the city.

El tren llega a la estación de Barcelona.
The train arrives at the Barcelona station.

Sofia y Mateo salen del tren.
Sofia and Mateo get off the train.

Check yourself

  1. Where are Sofia and Mateo going?
    Show answer

    To Barcelona

  2. What do Sofia and Mateo want to visit?
    Show answer

    The Sagrada Familia

  3. How do Sofia and Mateo feel?
    Show answer

    Excited

Checking into a hotel in Seville

A1 · 5 min

Sofia y Mateo llegan al hotel.
Sofia and Mateo arrive at the hotel.

Quieren un cuarto con vistas al río.
They want a room with a view of the river.

El recepcionista les dice que no hay disponibilidad.
The receptionist tells them that there is no availability.

Sofia y Mateo se decepcionan.
Sofia and Mateo are disappointed.

Pero el recepcionista les ofrece una habitación en el piso superior.
But the receptionist offers them a room on the top floor.

Sofia y Mateo están contentos.
Sofia and Mateo are happy.

Se van a la habitación a dejar sus maletas.
They go to the room to leave their luggage.

Después se van a explorar la ciudad.
After that, they go to explore the city.

Sofia y Mateo están emocionados.
Sofia and Mateo are excited.

Check yourself

  1. What do Sofia and Mateo want when they arrive at the hotel?
    Show answer

    A room with a view of the river

  2. Why are Sofia and Mateo disappointed?
    Show answer

    Because they don't have a room with a view

  3. What do Sofia and Mateo do after they leave their luggage?
    Show answer

    They go to explore the city

Asking for Directions

A1 · 5 min

Sofia está perdida en Madrid.
Sofia is lost in Madrid.

Pide ayuda a Mateo, su amigo español.
She asks for help from Mateo, her Spanish friend.

Mateo le dice: '¿Dónde estás?'
Mateo says: 'Where are you?'

Sofia le responde: 'Estoy en la Puerta del Sol'.
Sofia replies: 'I am in the Puerta del Sol'.

Mateo le dice: 'Vamos a la estación de metro más cercana'.
Mateo says: 'Let's go to the nearest metro station'.

Sofia está contenta de tener ayuda de Mateo.
Sofia is happy to have Mateo's help.

Mateo le sonríe y le dice: 'No te preocupes, te ayudaré'.
Mateo smiles and says: 'Don't worry, I'll help you'.

Sofia agradece a Mateo por su ayuda.
Sofia thanks Mateo for his help.

Mateo sonríe y dice: 'De nada, Sofia, siempre estoy aquí para ayudarte'.
Mateo smiles and says: 'You're welcome, Sofia, I'm always here to help you'.

Check yourself

  1. Where is Sofia?
    Show answer

    In the Puerta del Sol

  2. What does Mateo say to Sofia?
    Show answer

    Don't worry, I'll help you

  3. How does Sofia feel?
    Show answer

    Happy

Buying Clothes

A1 · 5 min

Sofia necesita comprar ropa nueva.
Sofia needs to buy new clothes.

Mateo la lleva al mercado de Rastro.
Mateo takes her to the Rastro market.

Allí encuentran ropa barata y divertida.
There, they find cheap and fun clothes.

Sofia compra un vestido bonito.
Sofia buys a nice dress.

Mateo le dice que se ve bien.
Mateo tells her that she looks good.

Sofia se siente feliz.
Sofia feels happy.

Mateo y Sofia se despiden.
Mateo and Sofia say goodbye.

Sofia va a casa contenta.
Sofia goes home happy.

Espera ir de nuevo al mercado con Mateo.
She waits to go back to the market with Mateo.

Check yourself

  1. What does Sofia need to buy?
    Show answer

    new clothes

  2. Where does Mateo take Sofia?
    Show answer

    the Rastro market

  3. How does Sofia feel at the end of the story?
    Show answer

    happy

Taking a Taxi

A1 · 5 min

Sofia está en Madrid con su amigo Mateo.
Sofia is in Madrid with her friend Mateo.

Mateo le dice a Sofia que debe tomar un taxi para ir al aeropuerto.
Mateo tells Sofia that she must take a taxi to the airport.

Sofia pregunta a Mateo cuánto cuesta el taxi.
Sofia asks Mateo how much the taxi costs.

Mateo le dice a Sofia que el taxi cuesta 10 euros.
Mateo tells Sofia that the taxi costs 10 euros.

Sofia paga el taxi y se va al aeropuerto.
Sofia pays for the taxi and goes to the airport.

Mateo le dice a Sofia que ella llegará al aeropuerto con tiempo.
Mateo tells Sofia that she will arrive at the airport on time.

Sofia está contenta porque Mateo le ayudó.
Sofia is happy because Mateo helped her.

Mateo sonríe y se despide de Sofia.
Mateo smiles and says goodbye to Sofia.

Sofia se va al aeropuerto con una sonrisa en su rostro.
Sofia goes to the airport with a smile on her face.

Check yourself

  1. Why is Sofia going to the airport?
    Show answer

    To visit her family

  2. How much does the taxi cost?
    Show answer

    10 euros

  3. How does Sofia feel at the end of the story?
    Show answer

    Happy

A Rainy Day

A1 · 5 min

Hoy hace un día muy lluvioso en Madrid.
Today it's a very rainy day in Madrid.

Sofía, mi amiga polaca, está muy triste.
Sofía, my Polish friend, is very sad.

Me dijo que no quería ir a la universidad porque llueve.
She told me she didn't want to go to the university because it's raining.

Pero yo le dije que no importaba, que íbamos a ir al mercado.
But I told her it didn't matter, that we were going to the market.

Mateo, mi amigo español, me ayudó a convencerla.
Mateo, my Spanish friend, helped me convince her.

Ahora estamos en el mercado, comprando frutas y verduras.
Now we're at the market, buying fruits and vegetables.

Sofía está sonriendo, y yo estoy contento.
Sofía is smiling, and I'm happy.

Es un buen día, a pesar del tiempo.
It's a good day, despite the weather.

Me alegra compartir estos momentos con mis amigos.
I'm happy to share these moments with my friends.

Check yourself

  1. Why is Sofía sad?
    Show answer

    Because she doesn't want to go to the university

  2. What are Sofía and Mateo doing now?
    Show answer

    They're buying fruits and vegetables

  3. How is Sofía feeling now?
    Show answer

    Happy

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