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Arabic for Kids
A parent asks

What are easy Arabic opposites for kids?

Bloomtivo answers

Teach opposites in pairs: كَبِير / صَغِير (big / small), طَوِيل / قَصِير (tall / short), حَارّ / بَارِد (hot / cold), جَدِيد / قَدِيم (new / old), سَعِيد / حَزِين (happy / sad), مَفْتُوح / مُغْلَق (open / closed) and سَرِيع / بَطِيء (fast / slow). Act each pair out with your body.

Reviewed by Asmaa Fakhry, Bloomtivo teacher · Updated

The full answer

Opposites are easy to remember because each word helps recall the other. Acting them out makes them stick.

Seven pairs

WordOppositeAct it out
كَبِير kabir (big)صَغِير saghir (small)Stretch arms wide / crouch down
طَوِيل tawil (tall, long)قَصِير qasir (short)Tiptoe / squat
حَارّ harr (hot)بَارِد barid (cold)Fan yourself / shiver
جَدِيد jadid (new)قَدِيم qadim (old)Show a new and an old toy
سَعِيد sa‘id (happy)حَزِين hazin (sad)Big smile / sad face
مَفْتُوح maftuh (open)مُغْلَق mughlaq (closed)Open and close a door
سَرِيع sari‘ (fast)بَطِيء bati’ (slow)Run on the spot / move slowly

Two games

  • Opposite ping-pong: you say one word, your child says the opposite as fast as possible.
  • Simon says opposites: “Simon says be صَغِير!” and your child crouches.

Make a sentence

الْفِيلُ كَبِيرٌ وَالْقِطَّةُ صَغِيرَةٌ: The elephant is big and the cat is small. Note the ة added for a feminine word like قِطَّة.

Teacher’s tip: two pairs a week is enough. In under a month your child knows seven pairs, fourteen words, and can describe almost anything.

Related: Animal names in Arabic.

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