Make sure that you know this word

Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Want to see more videos from Idioms.Online? Subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Here you can listen to an audio story recording of the Aladdin and the Magic Lamp, This video uses on-screen subtitles. The text is linked up with the voice narration so you can read along while listening. This video is great for English listening practice.

Note that in the original telling of this story, Aladdin was from China, not the Middle East or Persia. The story was told to Antoine Galland, the original European compiler of the ‘Arabian Nights’ stories, by a Chinese merchant.

The tale of Aladdin is found in The Arabian Nights tales or One Thousand and One Nights. This is a collection of Middle Eastern fairy tales. Antoine Galland first brought these stories to Europe in a French translation in 1704. These stories, full of fantastic and magical events, quickly grew popular and the demand for more stories skyrocketed. The story of Aladdin was first popularized by Galland’s collection. The story was not actually part of the original Arabic manuscript that Galland translated but was added by him, along with Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves. Both stories were told to him by a storyteller from Syria named Hanna Diab. Surprisingly, though, the characters were originally Chinese, except for the evil magician, who was from Africa. ‘Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp’ or ‘Aladdin and the Magic Lamp has been translated and retold many times since it was first published in 1704. This reading is based on the original 1704 translation. And, there were actually two genies!

Listening to stories and audiobooks in English is a great way to learn English or improve your English. The full story of Aladdin is printed below the video.

There once lived a poor tailor, who had a son called Aladdin. Aladdin was a careless and lazy boy who would do nothing but play in the streets all day long with other idle little boys like himself. This so grieved Aladdin’s father that he died.

Yet, in spite of his mother’s tears and prayers, Aladdin did not mend his ways. One day, when he was playing in the streets, as usual, a stranger asked him his age, and whether he was the son of Mustapha, the tailor. I am his son, sir,” replied Aladdin, “but he died a long while ago.”

On hearing this, the stranger, who was a famous African magician, began to hug his neck and kiss him, saying: “I am your uncle, and knew you because of your resemblance to my brother. Go to your mother and tell her I am coming.”

Aladdin ran home and told his mother of his newly found uncle. “Indeed, child,” she said, “your father had a brother, but I always thought he was dead.” Regardless, she made supper and asked Aladdin find his uncle, who came carrying wine and fruit. He presently fell down and kissed the place where Mustapha used to sit.

He begged Aladdin’s mother not to be surprised at not having seen him before, as he had been out of the country for forty years. He then turned to Aladdin and asked him his trade. Aladdin hung his head and his mother burst into tears. On learning that Aladdin was lazy and refused to learn a trade, he offered to buy a shop for him and stock it with merchandise. The next day he bought Aladdin a fine suit of clothes and took him all over the city, showing him the sights, and brought him home at nightfall to his mother, who was overjoyed to see her son so fine.

The day after that the magician led Aladdin into some beautiful gardens a long way outside the city gates. They sat down by a fountain and the magician pulled a cake from his girdle, which he divided between them. They then journeyed onwards till they almost reached the mountains. Aladdin was so tired that he begged to go back, but the magician beguiled him with pleasant stories and led him on in spite of himself.

At last, they came to two mountains divided by a narrow valley.

“We will go no farther,” said the false uncle. “I will show you something wonderful. But first, you gather up sticks while I kindle a fire.”

When it was lit the magician threw a powder on it while saying some magical words. The earth trembled a little and then opened in front of them, revealing a square flat stone with a brass ring in the middle to raise it by. Aladdin tried to run away, but the magician caught him and gave him a blow that knocked him down.

“What have I done, uncle?” he said piteously. More kindly now, the magician said, “There is no need to fear, but you must obey me.” Beneath this stone lies a treasure which is to be yours. No one else may touch it. So, you must do exactly as I tell you.”

At the word treasure, Aladdin forgot his fears and grasped the ring as he was told, saying the names of his father and grandfather. The stone came up quite easily and some steps appeared. “Go down the steps,” said the magician.

“At the foot of the steps you will find an open door leading into three large halls. Tuck up your gown and go through them without touching anything, or you will die instantly. These halls lead into a garden of fine fruit trees. Walk on until you come to a niche in a terrace with a lighted lamp standing in it. Pour out the oil it contains and bring it to me.” He drew a ring from his finger and gave it to Aladdin, wishing him good luck.

Aladdin found everything as the magician had said. He gathered some fruit off the trees, and, having got the lamp, arrived at the mouth of the cave. The magician cried out in a great hurry: “Quickly, give me the lamp.” Aladdin refused to do this until he was out of the cave. The magician flew into a terrible rage, and throwing some more powder on the fire, he said something, and the stone rolled back into its place.

The magician left Persia forever, which plainly showed that he was no uncle of Aladdin’s. Instead, he was a cunning magician who had read in his magic books of a wonderful magic lamp that would make him the most powerful man in the world. Although he was the only one who knew where to find it, he could only receive it from the hand of another. He had picked out the foolish Aladdin for this purpose, intending to get the lamp and kill him afterward.

For two days Aladdin remained in the dark, crying and lamenting. At last, he joined his hands to pray and in so doing rubbed the ring, which the magician had forgotten to take from him. Immediately an enormous and frightful genie rose out of the earth, saying: “What wouldst thou with me? I am the Slave of the Ring, and will obey thee in all things.”

Aladdin fearlessly replied: “Deliver me from this place!” whereupon the earth opened, and he found himself outside. As soon as his eyes could bear the light he went home, fainting on the threshold.

When he came to, he told his mother what had happened, showing her the lamp and the fruits he had gathered in the garden, which were, in reality, precious stones. He then asked for some food.

“Alas! child,” she said, “I have nothing in the house, but I have spun a little cotton and I’ll go and sell it.”
Aladdin told her to keep her cotton. He would sell the lamp instead.

As it was very dirty she began to rub it, hoping it would fetch a higher price. Instantly a hideous genie appeared and asked what she would have.

She fainted away, but Aladdin, snatching the lamp, said boldly, “Fetch me something to eat!”

The genie returned with a silver bowl, twelve silver plates containing rich meats, two silver cups, and two bottles of wine. Aladdin’s mother, when she regained consciousness, said, “Where did this splendid feast come from?”

“Don’t ask, just eat” replied Aladdin.

So they sat eating breakfast till it was dinner-time, and Aladdin told his mother about the lamp. She begged him to sell it, and have nothing to do with devils.

“No,” said Aladdin, “since chance has made us aware of its virtues, we will use it and also the ring, which I will always wear on my finger.” When they had eaten all the genie had brought, Aladdin sold one of the silver plates, and so on till none were left. He then had recourse to the genie, who gave him another set of plates, and thus they lived for many years.

One day Aladdin heard an order from the Sultan proclaiming that everyone was to stay at home and close his shutters while the princess, his daughter, went to and from the bath. Aladdin was seized by a desire to see her face, which was very difficult, as she always went veiled. He hid himself behind the door of the bath and peeped through a chink. The princess lifted her veil as she went in, and looked so beautiful that Aladdin fell in love with her at first sight. He went home so changed that his mother was frightened. He told her he loved the princess so deeply that he could not live without her, and meant to ask her father to allow him to marry her. His mother, on hearing this, burst out laughing.

But Aladdin, at last, convinced her to go before the Sultan with his request. She took a napkin and laid in it the magic fruits from the enchanted garden, which sparkled and shone like the most beautiful jewels. She took these with her to please the Sultan, and set out, trusting in the lamp. The grand-vizier and the lords of council had just gone in as she entered the hall and stood in front of the Sultan. He, however, took no notice of her. She went every day for a week and stood in the same place.

When the council broke up on the sixth day the Sultan said to his vizier: “I see a certain woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying something in a napkin. Next time, call her so that I can find out what she wants.”

The next day, at a sign from the vizier, she went up to the foot of the throne, and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her: “Rise, good woman, and tell me what you want.”

She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the vizier, and asked her speak freely, promising to forgive her beforehand for anything she might say. She then told him of her son’s violent love for the princess.

“I prayed him to forget her,” she said, “but in vain. He threatened to do some desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the hand of the princess. Now I beg you to forgive not me alone, but my son Aladdin.”

The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, whereupon she unfolded the jewels and presented them.

He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizier said: “What sayest thou? Ought I not to bestow the princess on one who values her at such a price?”

The vizier, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold her for three months, during which time he hoped his son would find a way to make the Sultan a more valuable present. The Sultan granted this and told Aladdin’s mother that, though he consented to the marriage, she must not appear before him again for three months.

Aladdin waited patiently for nearly three months, but after two had elapsed his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone rejoicing, and asked what was going on.

“Do you not know,” was the answer, “that the son of the grand-vizier is to marry the Sultan’s daughter tonight?”

Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first but presently remembered the lamp. He rubbed it, and the genie appeared, saying: “What is thy will?”

Aladdin replied: “The Sultan, as you know, has broken his promise to me, and the vizier’s son is to have the princess. My command is that tonight you bring the bride and bridegroom here.” “Master, I obey,” said the genie.

Aladdin then went to his chamber, where, sure enough, at midnight the genie transported the bed containing the vizier’s son and the princess.

“Take this new-married man,” he said, “and put him outside in the cold, and return at daybreak.”
Whereupon the genie took the vizier’s son out of bed, leaving Aladdin with the princess.

“Fear nothing,” Aladdin said to her; “you are my wife, promised to me by your unjust father, and no harm shall come to you.”

The princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the most miserable night of her life, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept soundly. At the appointed hour the genie brought in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place, and transported the bed back to the palace.

Presently the Sultan came to wish his daughter good morning. The unhappy vizier’s son jumped up and hid, while the princess would not say a word, and was very sorrowful.

The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: “Why will you not speak to your father? What has happened?”

The princess sighed deeply, and at last told her mother how, during the night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what had passed there. Her mother did not in the least believe her but made her get up and consider it all to be a dream.

The following night exactly the same thing happened, and on the next morning, when the princess again refused to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off her head. She then confessed everything, telling him to ask the vizier’s son if it were not so.

The Sultan told the vizier to ask his son, who admitted the truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he would rather die than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separated from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of feasting and rejoicing.

When the three months were over, Aladdin sent his mother to remind the Sultan of his promise. She stood in the same place as before, and the Sultan, who had forgotten Aladdin, at once remembered him and sent for her. On seeing her poverty the Sultan felt less inclined than ever to keep his word and asked the vizier’s advice, who counseled him to set so high a value on the princess that no man living could come up to it.

The Sultan then turned to Aladdin’s mother, saying, “Good woman, a Sultan must remember his promises and I will remember mine. But your son must first send me forty gold basins filled to the brim with jewels, carried by eighty slaves, splendidly dressed. Tell him that I await his answer.” The mother of Aladdin bowed low and went home, thinking all was lost.

When she got home, she gave Aladdin the message, adding: “He may wait a long time for your answer!”

“Not so long, mother, as you think,” her son replied.

“I would do a great deal more than that for the princess.”

He summoned the genie, and in a few moments the eighty slaves arrived and filled up the small house and garden.

Aladdin made them set out to the palace, two by two, followed by his mother. They were so richly dressed, with such splendid jewels in their girdles, that everyone crowded to see them and the basins of gold they carried on their heads.

They entered the palace, and, after kneeling before the Sultan, stood in a half-circle around the throne with their arms crossed, while Aladdin’s mother presented them to the Sultan.

He hesitated no longer, but said: “Good woman, return and tell your son that I wait for him with open arms.”

She lost no time in telling Aladdin, urging him to hurry. But Aladdin first called the genie.”I want a scented bath,” he said, “a richly embroidered habit, a horse surpassing the Sultan’s, and twenty slaves to attend me. Besides this, six slaves, beautifully dressed, to wait on my mother; and lastly, ten thousand pieces of gold in ten purses.”

No sooner said than done. Aladdin mounted his horse and passed through the streets, the slaves strewing gold as they went. Those who had played with him in his childhood failed to recognize him since he had grown so handsome.

When the Sultan saw him he came down from his throne, embraced him, and led him into a hall where a feast was spread, intending to marry him to the princess that very day. But Aladdin refused, saying, “I must build a palace fit for her,” and took his leave.

Once home he said to the genie: “Build me a palace of the finest marble, set with jasper, agate, and other precious stones. In the middle you shall build a large domed hall, its four walls set with thick gold and silver, each side having six windows, whose lattices, all except one, which is to be left unfinished, must be set with diamonds and rubies. There must be stables and horses and grooms and slaves. Go and see about it!”

The palace was finished by the next day, and the genie carried him there and showed him that all his orders were faithfully carried out, even down to the laying of a velvet carpet from Aladdin’s palace to the Sultan’s. Aladdin’s mother then dressed carefully and walked to the palace with her slaves, while he followed her on horseback. The Sultan sent musicians with trumpets and cymbals to meet them so that the air resounded with music and cheers. Aladdin’s mother was taken to the princess, who saluted her and treated her with great honor. At night the princess said goodbye to her father, and set out on the carpet for Aladdin’s palace, with his mother at her side, followed by the hundred slaves. She was charmed at the sight of Aladdin, who ran to receive her.

“Princess,” he said, “blame your beauty for my boldness if I have displeased you.”

She told him that, having seen him, she willingly obeyed her father in this matter.

After the wedding had taken place Aladdin led her into the hall, where a feast was spread, and she dined with him, after which they danced till midnight.

The next day Aladdin invited the Sultan to see the palace. On entering the hall with the twenty four windows, with their rubies, diamonds, and emeralds, he cried: “It is a world’s wonder! There is only one thing that surprises me. Was it by accident that one window was left unfinished?”

“No, sir, by design,” returned Aladdin. “I wished your Majesty to have the glory of finishing this palace.”

The Sultan was pleased and sent for the best jewelers in the city. He showed them the unfinished window and bade them fit it up like the others.

“Sir,” replied their spokesman, “we cannot find jewels enough.”

The Sultan had his own jewels fetched, which they soon used, but to no avail, for in a month’s time, the work was not even half done. Aladdin, knowing that their work was done in vain, told them to undo their work and carry the jewels back. Then, the genie finished the window at his command. The Sultan was surprised to receive his jewels again and visited Aladdin, who showed him the finished window. The Sultan embraced him, the envious vizier meanwhile hinting that it was the work of enchantment.
Aladdin had won the hearts of the people by his gentle ways. He was made captain of the Sultan’s armies, and won several battles for him, but remained as modest and courteous as before, and lived thus in peace and contentment for several years.

But far away in Africa, the magician remembered Aladdin. By his magic arts, he discovered that Aladdin, instead of perishing miserably in the cave, had escaped, and had married a princess, with whom he was living in great honor and wealth. He knew the only way the poor tailor’s son could have accomplished this was by using the lamp. So, he traveled night and day till he reached the capital of China, bent on Aladdin’s ruin. As he passed through the town he heard people talking everywhere about a marvelous palace.

“Forgive my ignorance,” he asked, “but what palace do you speak of?”

“Haven’t you heard of Prince Aladdin’s palace, the greatest wonder of the world? I will direct you if you have a mind to see it.”

The magician thanked the man and having seen the palace knew that it had been raised by the genie of the lamp, and became half mad with rage. He determined to get ahold of the lamp, and again plunge Aladdin into the deepest poverty.

Unluckily, Aladdin had gone hunting for eight days, which gave the magician plenty of time. He bought a dozen copper lamps, put them into a basket, and went to the palace, crying, “New lamps for old!” followed by a jeering crowd.

The princess, sitting in the hall of twenty-four windows, sent a slave to find out what the noise was about. The slave came back laughing so that the princess scolded her.

“Madam,” replied the slave, “who can help laughing to see an old fool offering to exchange fine new lamps for old ones?”

Another slave, hearing this, said: “There is an old one on the cornice there which he can have.”

Now, this was the magic lamp, which Aladdin had left there, as he could not take it out hunting with him. The princess, not knowing its value, laughingly told the slave to take it and make the exchange.

She went and said to the magician: “Give me a new lamp for this.”

He snatched it and told the slave to take her choice of new lamps, amid the jeering of the crowd. After this, he stopped peddling his lamps and went out of the city gates to a lonely place, where he remained till nightfall when he pulled out the lamp and rubbed it. The genie appeared, and at the magician’s command carried him, together with the palace and the princess in it, to a lonely place in Africa.

The next morning, the Sultan looked out of the window towards Aladdin’s palace and rubbed his eyes, for it was gone. He sent for the vizier and asked what had become of the palace. The vizier looked out too and was at a loss for words. He again put it down to enchantment, and this time the Sultan believed him and sent thirty men on horseback to fetch Aladdin in chains. They met him riding home, bound him, and forced him to go with them on foot. The people, however, who loved him, followed, armed, to make sure he came to no harm. He was carried before the Sultan, who ordered the executioner to cut off his head. The executioner made Aladdin kneel down, blindfolded him, and raised his scimitar to strike.

At that instant, the vizier, who saw that the crowd had forced their way into the courtyard and were scaling the walls to rescue Aladdin, called to the executioner to stay his hand. The people, indeed, looked so threatening that the Sultan gave way and ordered Aladdin to be unbound, and pardoned him in sight of the crowd.

Aladdin now begged to know what he had done.

“False wretch!” said the Sultan, “come here,” and showed him from the window the place where his palace had stood.

Aladdin was so amazed that he could not say a word.

“Where is my palace and my daughter?” demanded the Sultan.

“I am not so deeply concerned about the palace, but my daughter I must have. You’d better find her or you’ll lose your head.”

Aladdin begged for forty days to find her, promising if he failed to return he would suffer death at the Sultan’s pleasure. His plea was granted, and he left the Sultan’s presence, sadly.

For three days he wandered about like a madman, asking everyone what had become of his palace, but they only laughed and pitied him. He came to the banks of a river and knelt down to say his prayers before throwing himself in. In so doing he rubbed the magic ring he still wore. The genie he had seen in the cave appeared and asked his will.

“Save my life, genie,” said Aladdin, “and bring my palace back.”

“That is not in my power,” said the genie; “I am only the slave of the ring; you must ask the slave of the lamp.”

“Even so,” said Aladdin “you can take me to the palace and set me down under my dear wife’s window.” He at once found himself in Africa, under the window of the princess, and fell asleep out of sheer weariness.

He was awakened by the singing of the birds, and his heart was lighter. He saw plainly that all his misfortunes were owing to the loss of the lamp, and vainly wondered who had robbed him of it.

That morning the princess rose earlier than she had done since she had been carried into Africa by the magician, whose company she was forced to endure once a day. She, however, treated him so harshly that he dared not to actually live there.

As she was dressing, one of her women looked out and saw Aladdin. The princess ran and opened the window, and at the noise she made Aladdin looked up. She called to him to come to her, and so their joy at seeing each other again was great. After he had kissed her, Aladdin said, “I beg of you, Princess, in God’s name, before we speak of anything else, for your own sake and mine, tell me what has become of an old lamp I left on the cornice in the hall of twenty-four windows when I went hunting.”

“Alas!” she said “I am the unknowing cause of our sorrows,” and told him of the exchange of the lamp.

“Now I know,” cried Aladdin, “that we have the African magician to thank for this! Where is the lamp?”

“He carries it about with him,” said the princess, “I know, for he pulled it out of his breast to show me. He wants me to betray you and marry him, saying that you were beheaded by my father’s command. He is forever speaking ill of you, but I only reply with tears. If I persist, I have no doubt that he will use violence.”

Aladdin comforted her and left her for a while. He changed clothes with the first person he met in the town, and having bought a certain powder, returned to the princess, who let him in by a little side door.

“Put on your most beautiful dress,” he said to her, “and receive the magician with smiles, leading him to believe that you have forgotten me. Invite him to sup with you, and say you wish to taste the wine of his country. He will go for some, and while he is gone I will tell you what to do.”

She listened carefully to Aladdin, and when he left her dressed gaily for the first time since she left China. She put on a girdle and head-dress of diamonds and seeing in a mirror that she looked more beautiful than ever, received the magician.

To his great amazement, she said to him, “I have made up my mind that Aladdin is dead, and that all my tears will not bring him back to me, so I am resolved to no longer mourn and have therefore invited you to dine with me. But I am tired of the wines of China, and would like to taste those of Africa.”

The magician flew to his cellar, and the princess put the powder Aladdin had given her in her cup. When he returned she asked him to drink her health in the wine of Africa, handing him her cup in exchange for his as a sign she was reconciled to him.

Before drinking the magician made her a speech in praise of her beauty.

But the princess cut him short, saying, “Let me drink first, and you shall say what you will afterwards.” She set her cup to her lips and kept it there, while the magician drained his to the dregs and fell back lifeless.

The princess then opened the door for Aladdin and flung her arms around his neck, but Aladdin pushed her away, bidding her to leave him, as he had more to do. He then went to the dead magician, took the lamp out of his vest, and bade the genie carry the palace and all in it back to China. This was done, and the princess in her chamber only felt two little shocks, and scarcely knew she was at home again.

The Sultan, who was sitting in his closet, mourning for his lost daughter, happened to look up, and rubbed his eyes, for there stood the palace as before! He hurried there, and Alladin received him in the hall of the twenty-four windows, with the princess at his side. Aladdin told him what had happened, and showed him the dead body of the magician so that he would believe it. A ten days’ feast was proclaimed, and it seemed as if Aladdin might now live the rest of his life in peace. But that was not to be. The African magician had a younger brother, who was, if possible, more wicked and more cunning than himself. He traveled to China to avenge his brother’s death, and went to visit a pious woman called Fatima, thinking she might be of use to him. He entered her cell and held a dagger to her breast, telling her to rise and do his bidding on pain of death. He changed clothes with her, colored his face like hers, put on her veil, and murdered her so that she could not tell anyone. Then he went toward the palace of Aladdin.

All the people, thinking he was the holy woman, gathered around him, kissing his hands and begging his blessing. When he got to the palace there was such a racket going on around him that the princess made her slave look out of the window and ask what was the matter. The slave said it was the holy woman, curing people’s ailments by her touch, whereupon the princess, who had long desired to see Fatima, sent for her.

On coming to the princess the magician offered up a prayer for her health and prosperity. When he had done this the princess made him sit by her and begged him to stay with her always. The false Fatima, who wished for nothing better, consented but kept his veil down for fear of discovery. The princess showed him the hall and asked him what he thought of it.

“It is truly beautiful,” said the false Fatima. “In my mind, it wants but one thing.”

“And what is that?” said the princess.

“If only a roc’s egg were hung up from the middle of this dome, it would be the wonder of the world.”

After this, the princess could think of nothing but a roc’s egg, and when Aladdin returned from hunting he found her in a very bad mood.

He begged to know what was the matter, and she told him that all her pleasure in the hall was spoilt for the want of a roc’s egg hanging from the dome.

“If that is all,” replied Aladdin, “you shall soon be happy.”

He left her and rubbed the lamp, and when the genie appeared commanded him to bring a roc’s egg. The genie gave such a loud and terrible shriek that the hall shook.

“Wretch!” he cried, “is it not enough that I have done everything for you, but you must command me to bring my master and hang him up in the midst of this dome? You and your wife and your palace deserve to be burnt to ashes, but this request does not come from you, but from the brother of the African magician whom you destroyed. He is now in your palace disguised as the holy woman, whom he murdered. It was he who put that wish into your wife’s head. Take care of yourself, for he means to kill you.” So saying the genie disappeared.

Aladdin went back to the princess, saying his head ached, and requesting that the holy Fatima should be fetched to lay her hands on it. But when the magician came near, Aladdin, seizing his dagger, pierced him through the heart.

“What have you done?” cried the princess. “You have killed the holy woman!”

“Not so,” replied Aladdin, “but a wicked magician,” and told her of how she had been deceived.

After this Aladdin and his wife lived in peace. He succeeded the Sultan when he died, and reigned for many years, leaving behind him a long line of kings.

More Audio Stories