Learn French through stories you'll actually want to finish
Free, original short stories in French with full English translations, hand-picked vocabulary help, and comprehension questions — no account, no app, no cost.
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Featured stories
La boulangère de la rue Saint-Michel
The Baker on Rue Saint-Michel
A young woman's first day learning to shape croissants from the owner of a Québec City bakery.
- work
- food
- learning
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La chorale du quartier
The Neighborhood Choir
A teenager joins a neighborhood choir rehearsing for a cultural festival, doubting her voice until a mentor encourages her.
- music
- self-confidence
- community
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La Lettre Anonyme
The Anonymous Letter
Before a small Strasbourg theater troupe's opening night, an anonymous letter criticizes the lead actor's pacing, and no one admits to writing it.
- theater
- trust
- assumptions
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Frequently asked questions
Common questions
Is French Stories really free?
Yes. Every story, translation, and comprehension question on this site is free to read, with no account or sign-up required.
What level should I start at?
If you are brand new to French, start with A1 (Beginner). If you already know basic present-tense sentences and common vocabulary, try an A2 story and see how much you can follow before checking the translation.
What do the underlined words mean?
Underlined words or phrases have a helpful vocabulary note attached. Tap, click, or focus them to see an English meaning without leaving the page.
Are the vocabulary notes generated automatically?
No. Every vocabulary note is chosen and written by hand by whoever wrote the story, so the meaning actually fits the context it appears in.