Intermediate Arabic reading

True Friendship in Arabic

الصداقة الحقيقية

True Friendship is a Intermediate-level Arabic reading text about two friends resolving a disagreement through apology and forgiveness. 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 نَادِرٌ وَسَامِي صَدِيقَيْنِ مُقَرَّبَيْنِ، وَكَانَا يَقْضِيَانِ وَقْتًا طَوِيلًا مَعًا.

Nader and Sami were close friends who spent a great deal of time together.

ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ، اِخْتَلَفَا حَوْلَ مَنْ سَيَلْعَبُ بِالْكُرَةِ أَوَّلًا.

One day, they disagreed about who would play with the ball first.

غَضِبَ كُلٌّ مِنْهُمَا، وَقَالَ كَلَامًا قَاسِيًا، ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ كُلُّ وَاحِدٍ فِي طَرِيقِهِ.

Each became angry and said harsh words, then they went their separate ways.

مَرَّتْ أَيَّامٌ، وَشَعَرَ نَادِرٌ بِالْحُزْنِ لِأَنَّهُ اِفْتَقَدَ صَدِيقَهُ.

Days passed, and Nader felt sad because he missed his friend.

ثُمَّ عَلِمَ أَنَّ سَامِيًا مَرِيضٌ وَلَا يَسْتَطِيعُ الذَّهَابَ إِلَى الْمَدْرَسَةِ.

Then he learned that Sami was ill and could not go to school.

زَارَهُ نَادِرٌ وَحَمَلَ مَعَهُ سَلَّةَ فَاكِهَةٍ وَكِتَابًا يُحِبُّهُ سَامِي.

Nader visited him and brought a basket of fruit and a book Sami liked.

قَالَ نَادِرٌ: «أَنَا آسِفٌ عَلَى كَلَامِي الْقَاسِي.» فَأَجَابَ سَامِي: «وَأَنَا آسِفٌ أَيْضًا.»

Nader said, “I am sorry for my harsh words.” Sami replied, “I am sorry too.”

تَصَافَحَا وَتَسَامَحَا، وَاتَّفَقَا عَلَى أَنْ يَتَحَدَّثَا بِهُدُوءٍ عِنْدَ الِاخْتِلَافِ.

They shook hands, forgave each other, and agreed to speak calmly when they disagreed.

بَعْدَ أَنْ شُفِيَ سَامِي، عَادَا إِلَى اللَّعِبِ وَالدِّرَاسَةِ مَعًا.

After Sami recovered, they returned to playing and studying together.

فَهِمَا أَنَّ الصَّدَاقَةَ الْحَقِيقِيَّةَ لَا تَعْنِي عَدَمَ الِاخْتِلَافِ، بَلْ تَعْنِي الِاعْتِذَارَ وَالتَّسَامُحَ.

They understood that true friendship does not mean never disagreeing; it means apologizing and forgiving.

New Arabic words from the story

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

مُقَرَّبَانِ Close (two people)
اِخْتَلَفَا They disagreed
قَاسٍ Harsh
اِفْتَقَدَ Missed
تَصَافَحَا They shook hands
تَسَامَحَا They forgave each other
شُفِيَ Recovered
الِاعْتِذَارُ Apology

Reading comprehension questions

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

Score: 0 / 4

1. لِمَاذَا اِخْتَلَفَ نَادِرٌ وَسَامِي؟

2. مَاذَا أَحْضَرَ نَادِرٌ لِسَامِي؟

3. مَاذَا تَعْنِي الصَّدَاقَةُ الْحَقِيقِيَّةُ فِي الْقِصَّةِ؟

4. عَلَى مَاذَا اتَّفَقَ الصَّدِيقَانِ بَعْدَ أَنْ تَسَامَحَا؟

Learn Arabic from this story

The ending ـا can mark two people in a past verb

تَصَافَحَا وَتَسَامَحَا، وَاتَّفَقَا عَلَى أَنْ يَتَحَدَّثَا بِهُدُوءٍ عِنْدَ الِاخْتِلَافِ.

They shook hands, forgave each other, and agreed to speak calmly when they disagreed.

The verbs تَصَافَحَا، تَسَامَحَا and اتَّفَقَا end in ـا because exactly two friends performed the actions.

Another example: تَحَدَّثَا بِهُدُوءٍ. — The two of them spoke calmly.

For parents and teachers

Ask the learner to predict the story, then read or play each Arabic segment and identify words connected with friendship, apologies and dual verb forms. 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 True Friendship

What level is True Friendship?

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

What can learners practise in True Friendship?

Learners practise connected reading, listening, comprehension and vocabulary related to friendship, apologies and dual verb forms.

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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