Spanish reading practice, at your level
Short texts from A1 to B2. Tap any word to see what it means.
A1 · Spanish from Spain
Georges de Mestral es de Suiza. Es ingeniero.
Georges de Mestral is from Switzerland. He is an engineer.
Read the whole textFrom “How a walk with a dog gave us Velcro”
A2 · Spanish from Spain
En la provincia de Málaga, en Andalucía, hay un camino muy especial.
In the province of Málaga, in Andalusia, there is a very special path.
Read the whole textFrom “Caminito del Rey: a path hanging over a gorge”
B1 · Spanish from Spain
Estás en el salón, te levantas y vas a la cocina a por algo. Entras en la cocina y… nada.
You’re in the living room, you get up, and you go to the kitchen to get something. You walk into the kitchen and… nothing.
Read the whole textFrom “Why you forget why you walked into a room”
B2 · Spanish from Spain
A principios del siglo XIX, en Nueva Inglaterra, en el noreste de Estados Unidos, el hielo era un lujo.
In the early 1800s, in New England, in the northeastern United States, ice was a luxury.
Read the whole textFrom “The man who shipped ice from New England to India”
Start reading
Not sure of your level? Take the free level test
A1 Beginner
A2 Elementary
-
A2Spain · 3 min
TravelCaminito del Rey: a path hanging over a gorgeUn camino colgado sobre el río
Read
-
A2Mexico · 3 min
Food & cookingThe melted chocolate bar that led to the microwaveLa barra de chocolate que se derritió
Read
-
A2Spain and Mexico · 3 min
PsychologyWhy do we see faces in cars and clouds?Caras por todas partes
Read
-
A2Mexico · 3 min
Everyday lifeWhy do Spanish speakers say “¡Salud!” after a sneeze?¿Por qué decimos «¡Salud!»?
Read
B1 Intermediate
-
B1Mexico · 3 min
Garden & natureHow bees give directions with a danceLas abejas bailan para dar direcciones
Read
-
B1Spain · 3 min
PsychologyWhy you forget why you walked into a room¿A qué venías a la cocina?
Read
-
B1Spain · 3 min
TravelSegovia’s Roman aqueduct: stone with no mortarPiedras sin argamasa: el acueducto de Segovia
Read
B2 Upper intermediate
No texts for this choice yet.
Good Spanish reading practice is short, at your level, and about something you care about. This page has free Spanish texts from A1 to B2 (the short stories from our home page). Tap any word for its meaning, answer three questions, and move up a level when the questions feel easy. You don’t need to sign up.
Last updated:
On this page
Pick your level
Every text has a level from A1 to B2. Use the level buttons above the list to show one level at a time. If you’re not sure, start one level lower than you think: an easy first text is better than a hard one you give up on.
| Level | A text at this level feels like |
|---|---|
| A1 | Short sentences about one person, one place, one day. Mostly the present tense. |
| A2 | A short story with things that happened, on familiar topics, with a few new words. |
| B1 | A full article about everyday life or work, with opinions and the reasons for them. |
| B2 | A longer text with details, arguments, and some less common words. |
How to practice reading in Spanish
Read each text more than once, and do something different each time.
Read the whole text once without help
Read to the end without tapping anything. Try to get the main idea: who, what, and where. It’s fine to miss words on the first pass.
Guess, then tap
On the second read, guess the words you don’t know from the sentence around them. Then tap to check. Guessing first makes you read the sentence closely, and you’ll often be right.
Answer the three questions
Each text ends with three questions. Answer them before you open the answers. If all three feel easy, try a text at the next level.
Read it again, out loud
Read the text out loud once. You’ll notice words you can read but can’t yet say. Those are the ones to practice.
What to do when a text feels too hard (or too easy)
A text is right for you when you get the main idea and rarely need to look up more than one word in a sentence. If you need to look up more than one word in most sentences, switch to the level below. If you never tap and the questions feel obvious, move up a level.
Where the texts come from
Each text is prepared with AI from a named source. The source and its license are shown under the text. Two other AI models, from different companies, then check it for facts, level, and the kind of Spanish. The checks are automatic: no human editor reads each text before it goes up. If you spot a mistake, write to us at hello@talewell.app. How we make our texts.
Spanish from Spain and from Mexico
Every text has a badge: Spanish from Spain or Mexican Spanish. Texts from Spain use vosotros for “you all” and words like ordenador (computer). Mexican texts use ustedes and computadora. Neither one is more correct; they’re just different. Read the one you need, or both.
From reading to speaking
A text you’ve just read is the easiest thing to talk about, because you already have the words. Retell it in two or three sentences, out loud. Then answer a question about it, such as what you would do in the same situation. How to practice Spanish speaking has more ways to start.
Questions
How do I practice reading in Spanish?
Pick short texts at your level and read each one more than once. First read for the main idea. Then guess and tap the words you don’t know, answer the three questions, and read it out loud. When the questions feel easy, move up a level.
How can I read Spanish if I don’t know many words?
Start at A1 and use texts with meanings on tap. At A1 the sentences are short and the words are common, so you can follow the idea with the words you know. Tap only the words that stop you from understanding the sentence, and let the rest go.
Where can I find Spanish texts for my level?
On this page. Every text is marked A1, A2, B1, or B2, and you can show one level at a time. If you don’t know your level, take the free Spanish level test first. It takes about three minutes and links you to texts at your level.
Where do these texts come from?
Each text is prepared with AI from a named source, shown with its license under the text. Two other AI models then check it for facts, level, and the kind of Spanish. The checks are automatic, so a mistake can slip through. If you find one, write to us at hello@talewell.app.
Do I need to sign up?
No. You can read every text, see meanings, and check your answers without an account or an email address. The only form on the site is Notify me, for one email when the app is out, and it’s optional.
Which Spanish are the texts in, Spain or Mexico?
Both. Each text is labeled Spanish from Spain or Mexican Spanish. The grammar is mostly the same; some words and the plural “you” are different. Pick the one you need, or read both. If you’re not sure, choose the Spanish of the people you’ll talk to most.