Alabai and the Shepherd

Once upon a time, across the wide golden plains of Turkmenistan, there lived a young shepherd named Azat. Every morning, before the sun reached the horizon, Azat woke up and prepared for his long day in the grasslands. He filled his small water flask, put warm bread into his bag, and stepped outside. Waiting at the door was his loyal Alabai dog, Alaja.

Alaja was famous in the village. He was big and strong, with thick white fur and calm, wise eyes. Children felt safe when he was near, and elders trusted him. For Azat, Alaja was not only a dog; he was a friend, a helper, and a protector.

Together they guided the flock of sheep out of the village and into the open plains. The morning air was cool, and the sky slowly changed from soft pink to bright blue. The sheep spread out over the fresh grass, eating quietly. Alaja walked around them in a slow circle, watching every movement and listening to every sound.

Around midday, the sun grew hot. Azat sat under a small tree to rest. He broke his bread in half and shared it with Alaja. A light wind touched the dry grass, and distant desert birds sang high in the sky. Everything felt peaceful.

Suddenly, Alaja lifted his head. His ears stood tall, and his body became tense. Azat followed his eyes and saw a jackal near the edge of the flock. The sheep started to move nervously, pushing against one another.

Alaja ran forward with great speed. He barked loudly and placed himself between the jackal and the sheep. His strong body and brave stance made the jackal hesitate. After a moment, the wild animal turned away and disappeared into the bushes.

Azat walked over and gently hugged Alaja’s neck. The danger was gone, and the flock was safe again.

When the sun finally went down behind the low hills, Azat and Alaja walked home side by side, tired but happy. Azat knew that a shepherd could lead the sheep, but an Alabai like Alaja guarded the whole plain.

Vocabulary – Hekaýadaky käbir sözler

English	Pronunciation	Türkmençe
shepherd	/ˈʃɛpərd/	çopan
plain	/pleɪn/	düzlik
horizon	/həˈraɪzən/	gorizont
grassland	/ˈɡræsˌlænd/	otly meýdan
flock	/flɑːk/	sürü
protector	/prəˈtɛktər/	goragçy
fur	/fɜːr/	ýüň, tüý
calm	/kɑːm/	asuda
tense	/tɛns/	gaharly
jackal	/ˈdʒækɔːl/	şagal
edge	/ɛdʒ/	gyrasy
movement	/ˈmuːvmənt/	hereket
danger	/ˈdeɪndʒər/	howp
bushes	/ˈbʊʃɪz/	çalylyklar
distant	/ˈdɪstənt/	uzak
peaceful	/ˈpiːsfʊl/	asuda
brave	/breɪv/	batyr
stance	/stæns/	duruş
hill	/hɪl/	depe