Start with ten: قِطَّة (cat), كَلْب (dog), أَسَد (lion), فِيل (elephant), جَمَل (camel), حِصَان (horse), بَقَرَة (cow), خَرُوف (sheep), طَائِر (bird) and سَمَكَة (fish). Children love learning that some surahs are named after animals: Al-Baqarah (the cow), Al-Fil (the elephant), An-Naml (the ant) and An-Nahl (the bee).
Reviewed by Asmaa Darwish, Bloomtivo teacher · Updated
↓ The full answer
Animals are a favourite topic for young children, and they connect Arabic to the Quran in a fun way.
Ten first animals
Arabic
Say it
English
قِطَّة
qittah
cat
كَلْب
kalb
dog
أَسَد
asad
lion
فِيل
fil
elephant
جَمَل
jamal
camel
حِصَان
hisan
horse
بَقَرَة
baqarah
cow
خَرُوف
kharuf
sheep
طَائِر
ta’ir
bird
سَمَكَة
samakah
fish
Surahs named after animals
Al-Baqarah (2): the cow
An-Nahl (16): the bee
An-Naml (27): the ant
Al-‘Ankabut (29): the spider
Al-Fil (105): the elephant
Ask your child: “Which surah is named after an elephant?” It links new words to surahs they know.
Games
Animal sounds: you say the Arabic name, your child makes the sound.
Zoo or farm trip: name every animal in Arabic.
Picture book: cover the English word and guess in Arabic.
Teacher’s tip: qalb (heart) and kalb (dog) sound close. Teaching kalb is a great moment to practise the difference between ق and ك.
Start with 2 free trial lessons. If your child does not get on with the teacher, we change the teacher and the trial lessons stay free until your child is comfortable. After that, you choose a paid plan that fits your child.
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