🇪🇸 Spanish · free
Short stories in Spanish for beginners — with translation
Spanish is one of the easiest languages to start reading in: the spelling is regular, many words look like English, and there is plenty of easy material. The trouble is usually the opposite — too many short, disconnected texts about ordering coffee. A single longer story gives you something better: characters you care about and vocabulary that keeps coming back.
ReadNative's Spanish book is Don Quixote, retold as one graded story in 48 short chapters. It opens in the simplest possible Spanish — a quiet village, a man and too many books — and grows to B1 by the windmills and beyond. Each chapter reads like a short story on its own. The opening chapters of Don Quixote — in fact the whole book — are free to read in your browser at readnative.org, with tap-to-translate on every word.
48 stories, easiest first
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 1: El hidalgo
Chapter 1: The Country Gentleman
En un lugar de la Mancha hay un pueblo pequeño. En el pueblo hay una casa vieja y grande.
In a place in La Mancha there is a small village. In the village there is a big old house.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 2: Los libros
Chapter 2: The Books
En los libros hay caballeros valientes. Los caballeros luchan contra gigantes malos.
In the books there are brave knights. The knights fight against bad giants.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 3: La gran idea
Chapter 3: The Great Idea
Una noche, el hidalgo mira sus libros y piensa mucho. Sus libros están llenos de historias.
One night, the hidalgo looks at his books and thinks a lot. His books are full of stories.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 4: Las armas
Chapter 4: The Armor
El hidalgo tiene una idea: necesita armas. En un lugar de la casa, hay armas viejas.
The hidalgo has an idea: he needs armor. In one part of the house, there is old armor.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 5: Rocinante
Chapter 5: Rocinante
En el establo, hay un caballo viejo y flaco. Este caballo va a ser el caballo de un caballero andante.
In the stable, there is an old, skinny horse. This horse is going to be the horse of a knight errant.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 6: Dulcinea
Chapter 6: Dulcinea
Un caballero andante siempre tiene una dama. Don Quijote también necesita una dama.
A knight errant always has a lady. Don Quijote also needs a lady.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 7: La primera salida
Chapter 7: The First Sally
Es un día de julio. Hace mucho calor.
It is a day in July. It is very hot.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 8: La venta
Chapter 8: The Inn
Va todo el día por el camino. No ve ningún castillo.
He travels all day along the road. He does not see any castle.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 9: La vela de armas
Chapter 9: The Vigil of Arms
Un caballero necesita una vela de armas. Toda la noche, mira sus armas.
A knight needs a vigil of arms. All night, he watches over his arms.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 10: Caballero
Chapter 10: Knight
Es muy tarde. Hay luna en el patio.
It is very late. There is moonlight in the courtyard.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 11: Andrés
Chapter 11: Andrés
Don Quijote va por el camino. Oye un llanto en los árboles.
Don Quijote travels along the road. He hears crying among the trees.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 12: Los mercaderes
Chapter 12: The Merchants
Un día, don Quijote ve a unos hombres. Son mercaderes.
One day, don Quijote sees some men. They are merchants.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 13: El escrutinio
Chapter 13: The Inspection
Esa noche, el hidalgo durmió mucho. No abrió los ojos en toda la noche.
That night, the hidalgo slept a lot. He did not open his eyes all night.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 14: Sancho Panza
Chapter 14: Sancho Panza
Don Quijote pensó mucho en su segunda salida. Un caballero andante necesita un escudero.
Don Quijote thought a lot about his second sally. A knight errant needs a squire.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 15: Los molinos
Chapter 15: The Windmills
Don Quijote y Sancho iban por el camino. El campo estaba tranquilo.
Don Quijote and Sancho were going along the road. The countryside was calm.
A1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 16: Amo y escudero
Chapter 16: Master and Squire
Esa noche, don Quijote y Sancho durmieron bajo unos árboles. Los árboles eran grandes y viejos.
That night, don Quijote and Sancho slept under some trees. The trees were big and old.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 17: Los rebaños
Chapter 17: The Flocks
Ahora había dos nubes de polvo en el camino. El camino tenía mucho polvo.
Now there were two clouds of dust on the road. The road had a lot of dust.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 18: El yelmo de Mambrino
Chapter 18: Mambrino's Helmet
Después, empezó a llover. Estaba lloviendo mucho.
Afterward, it began to rain. It was raining a lot.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 19: Los galeotes
Chapter 19: The Galley Slaves
Don Quijote y Sancho iban por el camino. Sancho iba en su rucio.
Don Quijote and Sancho were going along the road. Sancho was riding on his donkey.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 20: Sierra Morena
Chapter 20: Sierra Morena
Don Quijote y Sancho fueron a la sierra. La sierra se llama Sierra Morena.
Don Quijote and Sancho went into the mountain range. The mountain range is called Sierra Morena.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 21: La penitencia
Chapter 21: The Penance
Don Quijote pensó mucho en Dulcinea. —Amadís de Gaula estaba loco de amor —dijo don Quijote—.
Don Quijote thought a lot about Dulcinea. "Amadís de Gaula was mad with love," said don Quijote.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 22: El mensajero
Chapter 22: The Messenger
Don Quijote se quedó solo en la sierra. Sancho fue a El Toboso en Rocinante.
Don Quijote stayed alone in the mountain range. Sancho went to El Toboso on Rocinante.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 23: La jaula
Chapter 23: The Cage
Esa noche, el cura y el barbero volvieron a la sierra. Llevaban disfraces extraños.
That night, the priest and the barber came back to the mountain range. They were wearing strange disguises.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 24: El regreso
Chapter 24: The Return
La carreta, muy lenta, fue muchos días al pueblo. Don Quijote iba en la jaula, cansado y triste.
The cart, very slow, traveled for many days toward the village. Don Quijote rode in the cage, tired and sad.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 25: El libro famoso
Chapter 25: The Famous Book
Sansón Carrasco llegó al pueblo un día de verano. Era joven y venía de Salamanca.
Sansón Carrasco arrived in the village one summer day. He was young and came from Salamanca.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 26: Hacia El Toboso
Chapter 26: Toward El Toboso
Don Quijote y Sancho viajaron muchos días por el camino. Por fin, una noche, llegaron cerca de El Toboso.
Don Quijote and Sancho traveled many days along the road. Finally, one night, they arrived near El Toboso.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 27: La Dulcinea encantada
Chapter 27: The Enchanted Dulcinea
—Allí vienen tres mujeres en burros —dijo Sancho, señalando—. Sancho dijo que una de ellas era Dulcinea.
"There come three women on donkeys," said Sancho, pointing. Sancho said that one of them was Dulcinea.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 28: El Caballero de los Espejos
Chapter 28: The Knight of the Mirrors
Un día, en el camino, llegó un caballero extraño. Todo él estaba cubierto de espejos pequeños.
One day, on the road, a strange knight arrived. He was entirely covered in little mirrors.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 29: Los leones
Chapter 29: The Lions
Un día, don Quijote y Sancho vieron un carro grande en el camino. El carro iba hacia el palacio del rey.
One day, Don Quijote and Sancho saw a big cart on the road. The cart was going toward the king's palace.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 30: La cueva de Montesinos
Chapter 30: The Cave of Montesinos
Cerca del camino, don Quijote encontró una cueva famosa. Sancho no quería entrar en la cueva.
Near the road, Don Quijote found a famous cave. Sancho did not want to enter the cave.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 31: Los duques
Chapter 31: The Dukes
Don Quijote y Sancho iban por el camino, cerca de un bosque. De repente, vieron a una mujer con un halcón en la mano.
Don Quijote and Sancho were going along the road, near a forest. Suddenly, they saw a woman with a falcon on her hand.
A2 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 32: La profecía de Merlín
Chapter 32: Merlin's Prophecy
Esa noche, don Quijote y Sancho fueron al jardín del duque. Había mucha gente en el jardín.
That night, don Quijote and Sancho went to the duke's garden. There were many people in the garden.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 33: Clavileño
Chapter 33: Clavileño
El duque tenía un caballo de madera en el jardín. Se llamaba Clavileño.
The duke had a wooden horse in the garden. It was called Clavileño.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 34: El gobernador
Chapter 34: The Governor
Sancho se preparó para ir a la ínsula Barataria. Don Quijote le dio muchos consejos antes de salir.
Sancho prepared to go to the island Barataria. Don Quijote gave him a lot of advice before leaving.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 35: La ínsula en guerra
Chapter 35: The Island at War
Un día, hubo un gran banquete para Sancho. La mesa tenía mucha comida muy buena.
One day, there was a great banquet for Sancho. The table had a lot of very good food.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 36: La renuncia
Chapter 36: The Resignation
Al amanecer, Sancho preparó su rucio. Ya no quería ser gobernador de la ínsula.
At dawn, Sancho got his donkey ready. He no longer wanted to be governor of the island.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 37: La libertad
Chapter 37: Freedom
Esa mañana, don Quijote y Sancho caminaban ya lejos del palacio. Don Quijote respiró el aire de la mañana y sonrió.
That morning, Don Quijote and Sancho were already walking far from the palace. Don Quijote breathed the morning air and smiled.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 38: Roque Guinart
Chapter 38: Roque Guinart
Cerca de Barcelona, el camino pasaba por un bosque oscuro y peligroso. De repente, un grupo de hombres armados rodeó a don Quijote y Sancho.
Near Barcelona, the road passed through a dark and dangerous forest. Suddenly, a group of armed men surrounded Don Quijote and Sancho.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 39: Barcelona y el mar
Chapter 39: Barcelona and the Sea
Al amanecer, don Quijote y Sancho caminaron hasta la playa. Allí, por primera vez en su vida, vieron el mar.
At dawn, Don Quijote and Sancho walked to the beach. There, for the first time in their lives, they saw the sea.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 40: El Caballero de la Blanca Luna
Chapter 40: The Knight of the White Moon
Al amanecer, don Quijote y Sancho bajaron a la playa. Allí estaba el Caballero de la Blanca Luna, montado en su caballo, cerca del mar.
At dawn, Don Quijote and Sancho went down to the beach. There was the Knight of the White Moon, mounted on his horse, near the sea.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 41: La derrota
Chapter 41: The Defeat
Don Quijote, tirado en la arena, sintió la lanza fría contra su visera. Todo el mundo en la playa esperaba en silencio.
Don Quijote, lying on the sand, felt the cold lance against his visor. Everyone on the beach waited in silence.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 42: El camino de vuelta
Chapter 42: The Road Back
El camino de vuelta era lento y triste. Don Quijote iba callado sobre Rocinante, pensando en la derrota.
The road back was slow and sad. Don Quijote rode silent on Rocinante, thinking about the defeat.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 43: Los azotes
Chapter 43: The Lashes
Era de noche en un bosque de la Mancha. Don Quijote y Sancho estaban sentados entre las hayas, cerca del fuego.
It was night in a forest in La Mancha. Don Quijote and Sancho were sitting among the beech trees, near the fire.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 44: La aldea
Chapter 44: The Village
En el camino hacia el pueblo, una liebre corría, huyendo de dos perros. La liebre pasó muy cerca de Sancho y se escondió bajo el rucio.
On the road to the village, a hare was running, fleeing from two dogs. The hare passed very close to Sancho and hid under the donkey.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 45: La enfermedad
Chapter 45: The Illness
Llegó el otoño, con sus días grises y su viento frío. Una mañana, don Quijote no se levantó de la cama.
Autumn arrived, with its grey days and its cold wind. One morning, don Quijote did not get up from bed.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 46: Alonso Quijano el Bueno
Chapter 46: Alonso Quijano the Good
Una mañana, muy temprano, don Quijote despertó con la mente clara. Llamó a su sobrina con una voz tranquila y nueva.
One morning, very early, don Quijote woke up with a clear mind. He called his niece with a calm, new voice.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 47: El testamento
Chapter 47: The Will
Alonso Quijano pidió que llamaran a un notario del pueblo. El notario llegó con papel y tinta, y se sentó junto a la cama.
Alonso Quijano asked that they call a notary from the village. The notary arrived with paper and ink, and sat next to the bed.
B1 · Don Quixote
Capítulo 48: En un lugar de la Mancha
Chapter 48: In a Place in La Mancha
Al amanecer, Alonso Quijano abrió los ojos por última vez. Miró a su sobrina, al ama, y sobre todo a Sancho, que lloraba en silencio.
At dawn, Alonso Quijano opened his eyes for the last time. He looked at his niece, at the housekeeper, and above all at Sancho, who was cryi
How to read these stories
- Read a chapter a day rather than three on Sunday. Short daily sessions keep the characters and words fresh.
- Do not stop at every verb ending. Recognise the person (-o, -as, -a, -amos) and move on; the tense will become clear from context.
- Tap a whole sentence when the word order confuses you — Spanish often puts the subject after the verb or drops it entirely.
- Watch out for false friends like "embarazada" and "actual"; looking these up once is worth it.
- Re-read early chapters after a couple of weeks. Noticing how easy they have become is real progress you can feel.
Questions
What is the best first story to read in Spanish?
Something long enough to follow and simple enough to enjoy. A graded retelling of a classic like Don Quixote works well because the plot carries you forward while the language stays controlled.
Is the translation shown all the time?
No — and that is deliberate. You read the Spanish and tap only the words or sentences you need, so you are actually reading rather than skimming English.
Are the stories in Latin American or European Spanish?
Don Quixote is set in Spain, but the retelling uses plain, widely understood Spanish. At beginner level the differences are small.