Intermediate Arabic reading

The Boy and the River in Arabic

الطِّفْلُ وَالنَّهْرُ

The Boy and the River is a Intermediate-level Arabic reading text about Ali choosing safety when his books fall into a fast-flowing river. Its fully vocalized Arabic helps learners read each word accurately, while the sentence-by-sentence English translation supports understanding. The story also includes optional Arabic audio, useful vocabulary, comprehension practice and a focused language point. It works well for independent reading, a short classroom lesson or shared practice with a parent.

Read the Arabic story with English translation

Read each Arabic sentence from right to left. Use the speaker button to hear the sentence, then check its English meaning underneath.

كَانَ عَلِيٌّ يُحِبُّ الْجُلُوسَ قُرْبَ النَّهْرِ وَمُرَاقَبَةَ الْأَسْمَاكِ.

Ali loved sitting by the river and watching the fish.

فِي أَحَدِ الْأَيَّامِ، وَضَعَ حَقِيبَتَهُ عَلَى الْعُشْبِ وَبَدَأَ يَقْرَأُ.

One day, he put his bag on the grass and began to read.

هَبَّتْ رِيحٌ قَوِيَّةٌ، فَدَفَعَتِ الْحَقِيبَةَ نَحْوَ الْمَاءِ.

A strong wind blew and pushed the bag towards the water.

سَقَطَتْ بَعْضُ كُتُبِهِ فِي النَّهْرِ، وَحَمَلَهَا التَّيَّارُ قَلِيلًا.

Some of his books fell into the river, and the current carried them a short distance.

هَمَّ عَلِيٌّ بِالنُّزُولِ، لَكِنَّهُ تَذَكَّرَ أَنَّ الْمَاءَ الْجَارِيَ قَدْ يَكُونُ خَطِرًا.

Ali was about to climb down, but he remembered that flowing water can be dangerous.

نَادَى رَجُلًا كَانَ يَعْمَلُ فِي قَارِبٍ قَرِيبٍ.

He called to a man who was working in a nearby boat.

اِسْتَعْمَلَ الرَّجُلُ عَصًا طَوِيلَةً ذَاتَ خُطَّافٍ، وَأَخْرَجَ الْكُتُبَ.

The man used a long pole with a hook and pulled out the books.

شَكَرَهُ عَلِيٌّ، ثُمَّ نَشَرَ الصَّفَحَاتِ فِي الشَّمْسِ لِتَجِفَّ.

Ali thanked him, then spread the pages in the sun to dry.

قَالَ الرَّجُلُ: «الْأَشْيَاءُ يُمْكِنُ تَعْوِيضُهَا، أَمَّا السَّلَامَةُ فَلَا تُقَدَّرُ بِثَمَنٍ.»

The man said, “Things can be replaced, but safety is priceless.”

مُنْذُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ، كَانَ عَلِيٌّ يَضَعُ حَقِيبَتَهُ بَعِيدًا عَنْ حَافَّةِ النَّهْرِ.

From that day on, Ali kept his bag away from the riverbank.

New Arabic words from the story

These words all appear in the story. Listen, repeat and find each one in the text above.

مُرَاقَبَةٌ Watching
تَيَّارٌ Current
هَمَّ Was about to
قَارِبٌ Boat
خُطَّافٌ Hook
تَجِفَّ To dry
تَعْوِيضٌ Replacement
حَافَّةٌ Edge

Reading comprehension questions

Choose one answer for each question. Your score updates after every first attempt.

Score: 0 / 4

1. مَا الَّذِي دَفَعَ الْحَقِيبَةَ نَحْوَ النَّهْرِ؟

2. لِمَاذَا لَمْ يَنْزِلْ عَلِيٌّ إِلَى الْمَاءِ؟

3. بِمَاذَا أَخْرَجَ الرَّجُلُ الْكُتُبَ؟

4. مَا السُّلُوكُ الْأَكْثَرُ أَمَانًا قُرْبَ النَّهْرِ؟

Learn Arabic from this story

لَكِنَّ introduces a contrasting idea

هَمَّ عَلِيٌّ بِالنُّزُولِ، لَكِنَّهُ تَذَكَّرَ أَنَّ الْمَاءَ الْجَارِيَ قَدْ يَكُونُ خَطِرًا.

Ali was about to climb down, but he remembered that flowing water can be dangerous.

لَكِنَّهُ means “but he.” It contrasts Ali’s first impulse with the safer thought that stopped him.

Another example: اِقْتَرَبَ، لَكِنَّهُ تَوَقَّفَ. — He approached, but he stopped.

For parents and teachers

Ask the learner to predict the story, then read or play each Arabic segment and identify words connected with river safety, asking for help and consequences. Have the learner arrange the main events in order, retell the problem and resolution, answer the comprehension questions, and use two new vocabulary items in original sentences.

Questions about The Boy and the River

What level is The Boy and the River?

The Boy and the River is marked Intermediate. The full tashkīl, English translation and sentence audio provide extra support for developing readers.

What can learners practise in The Boy and the River?

Learners practise connected reading, listening, comprehension and vocabulary related to river safety, asking for help and consequences.

How should this Arabic story be used?

Read one sentence at a time, listen to the audio, repeat the Arabic aloud, check the English only when needed, and then answer the questions from memory.

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