Intermediate Arabic reading

The Clever Crow in Arabic

ذكاء الغراب

The Clever Crow is a Intermediate-level Arabic reading text about a thirsty crow that solves a problem by thinking carefully. 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.

فِي يَوْمٍ حَارٍّ، طَارَ غُرَابٌ عَطْشَانُ يَبْحَثُ عَنِ الْمَاءِ.

On a hot day, a thirsty crow flew about looking for water.

بَعْدَ بَحْثٍ طَوِيلٍ، وَجَدَ إِبْرِيقًا قُرْبَ شَجَرَةٍ.

After a long search, he found a jug near a tree.

نَظَرَ دَاخِلَ الْإِبْرِيقِ، فَرَأَى فِي قَاعِهِ قَلِيلًا مِنَ الْمَاءِ.

He looked inside the jug and saw a little water at the bottom.

حَاوَلَ أَنْ يَصِلَ إِلَى الْمَاءِ بِمِنْقَارِهِ، وَلَكِنَّهُ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ.

He tried to reach the water with his beak, but he could not.

فَكَّرَ الْغُرَابُ قَلِيلًا، ثُمَّ رَأَى حِجَارَةً صَغِيرَةً عَلَى الْأَرْضِ.

The crow thought for a moment, then saw small stones on the ground.

أَخَذَ يَضَعُ الْحِجَارَةَ فِي الْإِبْرِيقِ وَاحِدَةً بَعْدَ أُخْرَى.

He began putting the stones into the jug one after another.

اِرْتَفَعَ الْمَاءُ شَيْئًا فَشَيْئًا حَتَّى وَصَلَ إِلَى فُوَّهَةِ الْإِبْرِيقِ.

The water rose little by little until it reached the mouth of the jug.

شَرِبَ الْغُرَابُ حَتَّى ارْتَوَى، ثُمَّ طَارَ سَعِيدًا، وَتَعَلَّمَ أَنَّ التَّفْكِيرَ يَحُلُّ الْمُشْكِلَاتِ.

The crow drank until he was no longer thirsty, then flew away happily, having learned that thinking solves problems.

New Arabic words from the story

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

غُرَابٌ Crow
عَطْشَانُ Thirsty
إِبْرِيقٌ Jug
قَاعٌ Bottom
مِنْقَارٌ Beak
حِجَارَةٌ Stones
فُوَّهَةٌ Mouth / opening
اِرْتَوَى Quenched his thirst

Reading comprehension questions

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

Score: 0 / 5

1. Why could the crow not drink at first?

2. How did the crow raise the water?

3. Why did the crow put stones in the jug?

4. What quality helped the crow solve his problem?

5. What happened as the crow added stones?

Learn Arabic from this story

أَخَذَ + present verb shows an action beginning

أَخَذَ يَضَعُ الْحِجَارَةَ فِي الْإِبْرِيقِ وَاحِدَةً بَعْدَ أُخْرَى.

He began putting the stones into the jug one after another.

أَخَذَ followed by the present verb يَضَعُ expresses that the crow began and continued the action.

Another example: أَخَذَ يَضَعُ الْحِجَارَةَ. — He began putting in the stones.

For parents and teachers

Ask the learner to predict the story, then read or play each Arabic segment and identify words connected with problem solving, water and sequential actions. 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 Clever Crow

What level is The Clever Crow?

The Clever Crow is marked Intermediate. The full tashkīl, English translation and sentence audio provide extra support for developing readers.

What can learners practise in The Clever Crow?

Learners practise connected reading, listening, comprehension and vocabulary related to problem solving, water and sequential actions.

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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