Intermediate Arabic reading

The Wind and the Tree in Arabic

الرِّيحُ وَالشَّجَرَةُ

The Wind and the Tree is a Intermediate-level Arabic reading text about an oak tree combining deep roots with flexibility during a storm. 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.

وَقَفَتْ شَجَرَةُ بَلُّوطٍ عَتِيقَةٌ فِي وَسَطِ الْحَقْلِ سَنَوَاتٍ طَوِيلَةً.

An old oak tree had stood in the middle of the field for many years.

كَانَتْ أَغْصَانُهَا تَمْنَحُ الظِّلَّ لِلْعَصَافِيرِ وَالْمُسَافِرِينَ.

Its branches gave shade to birds and travellers.

ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ، هَبَّتْ رِيحٌ عَاتِيَةٌ وَحَرَّكَتِ الْأَغْصَانَ بِقُوَّةٍ.

One night, a fierce wind blew and shook the branches strongly.

صَاحَتِ الرِّيحُ: «سَأَقْتَلِعُكِ مِنْ مَكَانِكِ!»

The wind cried, “I will uproot you from your place!”

أَجَابَتِ الشَّجَرَةُ: «جُذُورِي عَمِيقَةٌ، وَلَكِنَّنِي سَأَحْنِي أَغْصَانِي حَتَّى تَمُرِّي.»

The tree replied, “My roots are deep, but I will bend my branches until you pass.”

اِنْحَنَتِ الْأَغْصَانُ مَعَ هَبَّاتِ الرِّيحِ، وَبَقِيَ الْجِذْعُ ثَابِتًا.

The branches bent with the gusts, while the trunk remained firm.

عِنْدَ الْفَجْرِ، هَدَأَتِ الْعَاصِفَةُ وَظَهَرَتِ الشَّمْسُ.

At dawn, the storm calmed and the sun appeared.

رَأَتِ الشَّجَرَةُ شَتْلَةً صَغِيرَةً مَائِلَةً، فَأَسْنَدَتْهَا بِأَحَدِ أَغْصَانِهَا.

The tree saw a small sapling leaning over, so it supported it with one of its branches.

قَالَتِ الشَّتْلَةُ: «ظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ الْقُوَّةَ تَعْنِي أَلَّا نَنْحَنِي أَبَدًا.»

The sapling said, “I thought strength meant never bending.”

فَقَالَتِ الشَّجَرَةُ: «الْجُذُورُ تَمْنَحُنَا الثَّبَاتَ، وَالْمُرُونَةُ تُسَاعِدُنَا عَلَى تَجَاوُزِ الْعَوَاصِفِ.»

The tree replied, “Roots give us stability, and flexibility helps us weather storms.”

New Arabic words from the story

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

بَلُّوطٌ Oak
عَتِيقَةٌ Old
عَاتِيَةٌ Fierce
أَقْتَلِعُ I uproot
جِذْعٌ Trunk
شَتْلَةٌ Sapling
ثَبَاتٌ Stability
مُرُونَةٌ Flexibility

Reading comprehension questions

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

Score: 0 / 4

1. مَاذَا كَانَتِ الشَّجَرَةُ تَمْنَحُ الْعَصَافِيرَ وَالْمُسَافِرِينَ؟

2. كَيْفَ وَاجَهَتِ الشَّجَرَةُ الرِّيحَ؟

3. مَاذَا فَعَلَتِ الشَّجَرَةُ بَعْدَ الْعَاصِفَةِ؟

4. مَا مَعْنَى الْقُوَّةِ فِي الْقِصَّةِ؟

Learn Arabic from this story

وَ joins two related ideas

The tree replied, “Roots give us stability, and flexibility helps us weather storms.”

The conjunction وَ links two related clauses: roots provide stability, and flexibility helps during storms.

Another example: الْجُذُورُ ثَابِتَةٌ، وَالْأَغْصَانُ مَرِنَةٌ. — The roots are firm, and the branches are flexible.

For parents and teachers

Ask the learner to predict the story, then read or play each Arabic segment and identify words connected with storms, resilience and helping others. 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 Wind and the Tree

What level is The Wind and the Tree?

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

What can learners practise in The Wind and the Tree?

Learners practise connected reading, listening, comprehension and vocabulary related to storms, resilience and helping others.

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.

← Explore all 60 Arabic mini stories