A1 · Português
Portuguese short stories for A1 learners
Classic stories, retold for your level
These are classics originally written in Portuguese, retold for A1–A2 learners. A retelling keeps the whole plot of the original — every scene, every turn — in language pitched at your level. Every sentence has a translation into your language, and the first sentences of any story are free to type, no account needed.
A caolha
The One-Eyed Woman · Júlia Lopes de Almeida, 1903
A caolha era uma mulher alta e muito magra.
The one-eyed woman was tall and very thin.
A1–A21,772 words~54 min to typeTranslation: EN UK ES FR DE IT KO
Missa do Galo
Midnight Mass · Machado de Assis, 1894
Nunca entendi bem uma conversa que tive há muitos anos.
I never really understood a conversation I had many years ago.
A1–A22,132 words~65 min to typeTranslation: EN UK ES FR DE IT KO
O homem que sabia javanês
The Man Who Knew Javanese · Lima Barreto, 1911
Um dia, eu estava numa confeitaria com o meu amigo Castro.
One day, I was at a pastry shop with my friend Castro.
A1–A22,264 words~69 min to typeTranslation: EN UK ES FR DE IT KO
A idéa da comadre Monica
Godmother Monica's Idea · Fialho de Almeida, 1881
A idéa da comadre Monica Foi no fim de setembro.
Comadre Monica's Idea It was the end of September.
A1–A22,299 words~70 min to typeTranslation: EN UK ES FR DE IT KO
A Cartomante
The Fortune-Teller · Machado de Assis, 1884
Era um dia frio de novembro, no ano de 1869.
It was a cold day in November, in the year 1869.
A1–A22,500 words~76 min to typeTranslation: EN UK ES FR DE IT KO
No Moinho
At the Mill · Eça de Queirós, 1880
Dona Maria da Piedade era uma senhora modelo, e todos na vila falavam bem dela.
Dona Maria da Piedade was a model lady, and everyone in the village spoke well of her.
A1–A22,632 words~80 min to typeTranslation: EN UK ES FR DE IT KO
Idílio rústico
Rustic Idyll · Trindade Coelho, 1891
Era muito cedo e o pastor descia a rua com o seu rebanho.
It was very early, and the shepherd was going down the street with his flock.
A1–A22,668 words~81 min to typeTranslation: EN UK ES FR DE IT KO
Singularidades de uma Rapariga Loura
The Idiosyncrasies of a Young Blonde Woman · Eça de Queirós, 1874
Conheci este velho homem numa pousada do Minho.
I met this old man at an inn in Minho.
A1–A25,209 words~158 min to typeTranslation: EN UK ES FR DE IT KO
A1 in other languages
Questions
How were these retellings made?
Each retelling starts as an AI draft written to its level. A second pass critiques and revises it: does it fit the level, is the whole plot still there? A mechanical check makes sure no long passages are copied from the original. English and Ukrainian retellings are also read by a person before they go live.
Are these official CEFR levels?
No. A1–A2, B1–B2 and C1 are the targets each retelling is written to, on the CEFR scale (the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) you know from courses and exams. No one certifies the level of a story, ours included, so treat it as a guide: if a page feels too easy or too hard, move one level over.
Can I switch levels in the middle of a story?
Yes. The three levels are separate retellings of the same story, and each keeps its own progress — switch to an easier or a harder one whenever you like, and come back to where you left off.
Is it free?
The first sentences of every retelling are free to type, no account needed, and the free daily practice draws sentences from the whole library. Whole stories, at all three levels, come with Krapka Pro — $5 a month or $45 a year.