Intermediate Arabic reading

The Little Hero in Arabic

الْبَطَلُ الصَّغِيرُ

The Little Hero is a Intermediate-level Arabic reading text about Majed responding safely when he notices smoke at a neighbour’s home. 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 مَاجِدٌ يَلْعَبُ أَمَامَ بَيْتِهِ عِنْدَمَا شَمَّ رَائِحَةَ دُخَانٍ.

Majed was playing in front of his house when he smelled smoke.

نَظَرَ حَوْلَهُ، فَرَأَى الدُّخَانَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ نَافِذَةِ بَيْتِ جَارَتِهِ الْمُسِنَّةِ.

He looked around and saw smoke coming from the window of his elderly neighbour’s house.

بَقِيَ خَارِجَ الْبَيْتِ وَصَاحَ: «يَا خَالَتِي، اُخْرُجِي مِنَ الْبَيْتِ!»

He stayed outside and shouted, “Auntie, come out of the house!”

ثُمَّ اتَّصَلَ بِرَقْمِ الطَّوَارِئِ، وَأَخْبَرَهُمْ بِالْعُنْوَانِ بِوُضُوحٍ.

Then he called the emergency number and clearly gave them the address.

سَمِعَ وَالِدُ مَاجِدٍ صَوْتَهُ، فَجَاءَ لِلْمُسَاعَدَةِ.

Majed’s father heard his voice and came to help.

خَرَجَتِ الْجَارَةُ مِنَ الْبَابِ الْبَعِيدِ عَنِ الدُّخَانِ، وَسَاعَدَهَا الْأَبُ عَلَى الِابْتِعَادِ.

The neighbour came out through the door away from the smoke, and Majed’s father helped her move farther away.

وَصَلَ رِجَالُ الْإِطْفَاءِ وَأَخْمَدُوا الْحَرِيقَ الصَّغِيرَ فِي الْمَطْبَخِ.

The firefighters arrived and put out the small fire in the kitchen.

قَالَ رَجُلُ الْإِطْفَاءِ لِمَاجِدٍ: «أَحْسَنْتَ لِأَنَّكَ لَمْ تَدْخُلِ الْبَيْتَ.»

A firefighter told Majed, “Well done for not entering the house.”

شَكَرَتِ الْجَارَةُ مَاجِدًا عَلَى سُرْعَةِ تَنْبِيهِهِ وَطَلَبِهِ الْمُسَاعَدَةَ.

The neighbour thanked Majed for quickly warning her and calling for help.

تَعَلَّمَ الْأَطْفَالُ أَنَّ الْبُطُولَةَ فِي الطَّوَارِئِ تَبْدَأُ بِالتَّصَرُّفِ الْآمِنِ.

The children learned that heroism in an emergency begins with acting safely.

New Arabic words from the story

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

دُخَانٌ Smoke
مُسِنَّةٌ Elderly
طَوَارِئُ Emergency services
عُنْوَانٌ Address
رِجَالُ الْإِطْفَاءِ Firefighters
أَخْمَدُوا Put out
تَنْبِيهٌ Warning
آمِنٌ Safe

Reading comprehension questions

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

Score: 0 / 4

1. مِنْ أَيْنَ خَرَجَ الدُّخَانُ؟

2. مَاذَا فَعَلَ مَاجِدٌ أَوَّلًا؟

3. لِمَاذَا مَدَحَ رَجُلُ الْإِطْفَاءِ مَاجِدًا؟

4. مَا الَّذِي يَجِبُ فِعْلُهُ عِنْدَ رُؤْيَةِ حَرِيقٍ؟

Learn Arabic from this story

عِنْدَمَا introduces the time of an event

كَانَ مَاجِدٌ يَلْعَبُ أَمَامَ بَيْتِهِ عِنْدَمَا شَمَّ رَائِحَةَ دُخَانٍ.

Majed was playing in front of his house when he smelled smoke.

عِنْدَمَا means “when” and links the background action with the event that interrupted it.

Another example: كُنْتُ أَقْرَأُ عِنْدَمَا رَنَّ الْجَرَسُ. — I was reading when the bell rang.

For parents and teachers

Ask the learner to predict the story, then read or play each Arabic segment and identify words connected with fire safety, emergency calls and responsible courage. 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 Little Hero

What level is The Little Hero?

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

What can learners practise in The Little Hero?

Learners practise connected reading, listening, comprehension and vocabulary related to fire safety, emergency calls and responsible courage.

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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