Intermediate Arabic reading

My Little Sister in Arabic

أختي الصغيرة

My Little Sister is a Intermediate-level Arabic reading text about siblings resolving a disagreement by sharing their blocks. 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.

اِسْمُ أُخْتِي الصَّغِيرَةِ رِيمٌ، وَهِيَ تُحِبُّ الرَّسْمَ وَبِنَاءَ الْبُيُوتِ بِالْمُكَعَّبَاتِ.

My little sister’s name is Reem, and she loves drawing and building houses with blocks.

فِي بَعْضِ الْأَحْيَانِ، تَدْخُلُ غُرْفَتِي وَتَأْخُذُ أَلْعَابِي دُونَ أَنْ تَسْأَلَنِي.

Sometimes she enters my room and takes my toys without asking me.

ذَاتَ مَسَاءٍ، بَنَيْتُ بُرْجًا طَوِيلًا، فَجَاءَتْ رِيمٌ وَأَرَادَتْ أَنْ تَلْعَبَ مَعِي.

One evening, I built a tall tower, and Reem came and wanted to play with me.

قُلْتُ لَهَا بِغَضَبٍ: «لَا تَلْمَسِي مُكَعَّبَاتِي!» فَجَلَسَتْ بَعِيدًا وَبَدَتْ حَزِينَةً.

I said angrily, “Do not touch my blocks!” She sat far away and looked sad.

بَعْدَ قَلِيلٍ، سَقَطَ الْبُرْجُ، وَتَنَاثَرَتِ الْمُكَعَّبَاتُ فِي الْغُرْفَةِ.

Soon, the tower fell and the blocks scattered across the room.

أَسْرَعَتْ رِيمٌ إِلَيَّ، وَسَاعَدَتْنِي عَلَى جَمْعِهَا مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ أَطْلُبَ مِنْهَا.

Reem hurried to me and helped me collect them without being asked.

شَعَرْتُ بِالْخَجَلِ، وَقُلْتُ: «أَنَا آسِفٌ يَا رِيمُ. هَلْ نَبْنِي بَيْتًا مَعًا؟»

I felt ashamed and said, “I am sorry, Reem. Shall we build a house together?”

اِبْتَسَمَتْ، وَبَدَأْنَا نَخْتَارُ الْمُكَعَّبَاتِ وَنُرَتِّبُهَا جَنْبًا إِلَى جَنْبٍ.

She smiled, and we began choosing the blocks and arranging them side by side.

صَنَعْنَا بَيْتًا جَمِيلًا لَهُ بَابَانِ وَنَافِذَتَانِ، وَفَرِحْنَا بِعَمَلِنَا.

We made a beautiful house with two doors and two windows, and we were pleased with our work.

تَعَلَّمْتُ أَنَّ الْمُشَارَكَةَ تَجْعَلُ اللَّعِبَ أَجْمَلَ، وَتُقَوِّي الْمَحَبَّةَ بَيْنَنَا.

I learned that sharing makes play more enjoyable and strengthens the love between us.

New Arabic words from the story

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

الْمُكَعَّبَاتُ Blocks
بُرْجٌ Tower
تَلْمَسِي Touch (to a girl)
تَنَاثَرَتْ Scattered
الْخَجَلُ Shame
نُرَتِّبُهَا We arrange them
الْمُشَارَكَةُ Sharing
تُقَوِّي Strengthens

Reading comprehension questions

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

Score: 0 / 4

1. مَاذَا بَنَى الرَّاوِي فِي الْبِدَايَةِ؟

2. كَيْفَ شَعَرَتْ رِيمٌ عِنْدَمَا مُنِعَتْ مِنَ اللَّعِبِ؟

3. مَاذَا فَعَلَتْ رِيمٌ بَعْدَ سُقُوطِ الْبُرْجِ؟

4. مَا الَّذِي تَعَلَّمَهُ الرَّاوِي؟

Learn Arabic from this story

لَا + jussive verb can form a negative command

قُلْتُ لَهَا بِغَضَبٍ: «لَا تَلْمَسِي مُكَعَّبَاتِي!» فَجَلَسَتْ بَعِيدًا وَبَدَتْ حَزِينَةً.

I said angrily, “Do not touch my blocks!” She sat far away and looked sad.

لَا تَلْمَسِي is a command telling one girl not to do something. The verb is addressed to a feminine singular listener.

Another example: لَا تَحْزَنِي. — Do not be sad.

For parents and teachers

Ask the learner to predict the story, then read or play each Arabic segment and identify words connected with siblings, feelings and cooperative play. 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 My Little Sister

What level is My Little Sister?

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

What can learners practise in My Little Sister?

Learners practise connected reading, listening, comprehension and vocabulary related to siblings, feelings and cooperative play.

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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