Khalid visits a barber and explains how he wants his hair. A few simple questions help him get the haircut he has in mind.
01Read the Arabic story
قَصَّةُ شَعْرٍ جَدِيدَةٌ
اِسْمِي خَالِدٌ. فِي صَبَاحِ يَوْمِ السَّبْتِ أَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْحَلَّاقِ. شَعْرِي طَوِيلٌ، وَأُرِيدُ قَصَّةَ شَعْرٍ جَدِيدَةً. الْمَحَلُّ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ بَيْتِي. أَفْتَحُ الْبَابَ وَأُسَلِّمُ عَلَى الْحَلَّاقِ. فِي الْمَحَلِّ كُرْسِيٌّ كَبِيرٌ وَمِرْآةٌ.
أَجْلِسُ أَمَامَ الْمِرْآةِ. يَسْأَلُنِي الْحَلَّاقُ: «كَيْفَ تُرِيدُ شَعْرَكَ؟» أَقُولُ: «أُرِيدُهُ أَقْصَرَ قَلِيلًا، مِنْ فَضْلِكَ». يُشِيرُ إِلَى شَعْرِي وَيَسْأَلُ: «هَكَذَا؟» أَقُولُ: «نَعَمْ، هَذَا جَيِّدٌ». يَضَعُ قِطْعَةَ قُمَاشٍ حَوْلَ كَتِفَيَّ.
يَأْخُذُ الْحَلَّاقُ الْمِشْطَ وَالْمِقَصَّ. يَقُصُّ شَعْرِي بِهُدُوءٍ. أَنْظُرُ إِلَى الْمِرْآةِ وَأَنْتَظِرُ. يَسْأَلُ: «هَلِ الْكُرْسِيُّ مُرِيحٌ؟» أَقُولُ: «نَعَمْ، شُكْرًا». بَعْدَ وَقْتٍ قَصِيرٍ يَضَعُ الْمِقَصَّ عَلَى الطَّاوِلَةِ وَيَبْتَسِمُ.
أَنْظُرُ إِلَى شَعْرِي مِنَ الْأَمَامِ وَمِنَ الْجَانِبِ. الْقَصَّةُ جَمِيلَةٌ، وَأَنَا سَعِيدٌ بِهَا. أَشْكُرُ الْحَلَّاقَ وَأَدْفَعُ الْمَالَ. أَعُودُ إِلَى الْبَيْتِ. يَنْظُرُ أَبِي إِلَيَّ وَيَقُولُ: «شَعْرُكَ جَمِيلٌ!» أَبْتَسِمُ وَأَقُولُ: «شُكْرًا يَا أَبِي!»
Show English translationHide English translation
My name is Khalid. On Saturday morning, I go to the barber. My hair is long, and I want a new haircut. The shop is near my home. I open the door and greet the barber. There is a large chair and a mirror in the shop.
I sit in front of the mirror. The barber asks me, “How would you like your hair?” I say, “I would like it a little shorter, please.” He points to my hair and asks, “Like this?” I say, “Yes, that is good.” He puts a piece of cloth around my shoulders.
The barber takes the comb and scissors. He cuts my hair calmly. I look in the mirror and wait. He asks, “Is the chair comfortable?” I say, “Yes, thank you.” After a short time, he puts the scissors on the table and smiles.
I look at my hair from the front and from the side. The haircut is nice, and I am happy with it. I thank the barber and pay. I return home. My father looks at me and says, “Your hair looks nice!” I smile and say, “Thank you, Dad!”
02Useful words from the story
| Arabic in the story | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| الْحَلَّاقِ | the barber |
| شَعْرِي | my hair |
| مِرْآةٌ | a mirror |
| الْمِشْطَ | the comb |
| الْمِقَصَّ | the scissors |
| مُرِيحٌ | comfortable |
| أَدْفَعُ | I pay |
03Check your understanding
Choose one answer for each question. Look back at the Arabic story when you need a clue. Open the English support if you need help understanding a question.
What to remember
- Connect Khalid’s request with the haircut he receives.
- Use the location phrases to follow the chair, mirror and scissors.
Explore the Arabic in this story
Related grammar and vocabularyOpen Araqick guides connected to this story.
Arabic Question Words: Who, What, Where, When, and Why
كَيْفَ تُرِيدُ شَعْرَكَ؟
Review how kayfa asks about the way someone wants something.
Rooms and Furniture in Arabic: 15 Words for Your Home
فِي الْمَحَلِّ كُرْسِيٌّ كَبِيرٌ وَمِرْآةٌ
Review mirror, chair and table vocabulary from the barber’s shop.
Arabic Time and Place Adverbs: Before, After, In Front and Behind
أَجْلِسُ أَمَامَ الْمِرْآةِ
Practise the place expression meaning in front of.
