Vowels
Last updated
Last updated
Omission or substitution of a single harakah can change or even totally reverse the meaning of a word.
In the Arabic language vowels are known as Harakat (حَرَكَات), they are signs that determine how to pronounce the Arabic letters.
The Arabic language has three main short vowels, which are called Fathah- فَتْحَة, Kasrah- كَسْرَة, and Dammah- ضَمَّة. These vowels are represented by signs placed above or below a letter.
Additionally, there are three long vowels in the Arabic language which are the Alif (ا), Waw (و) and Yaa (ي).
Which makes the overall number of Arabic vowels six vowels.
Fathah is represented by ـَ and is pronounced as ‘a’ in the English word “above”.
Dammah is represented by ـُ and is pronounced as ‘u’ in the English word “put”.
Kasrah is represented by ـِ and it is pronounced as ‘i’ in the word “if”.
Bonus
4. Non-voweled Arabic letters (Saakin letters)
In addition to these three vowels, there is also a sign called Sukun, which is represented by ـْ and indicates that the consonant letter is vowelless. Examples of words with Sukun is the letter “Noon” in kun- كُنْ.
Shadda is formed by bringing together two of the same letter: the first one is with sukoon (jazm, the second one with a vowel. It is recited with emphasis.
Shadda is written like a “w” or an upside down “m” above the letter.
For example, اِنْ نَ , in this word, two nuns have come right next to each other. The first is with jazm, the second with a short vowel, so they are written as one nun with a shadda above اِنَّ and recited with emphasis. Transliteration: the first one is ‘in-na,’ the second is ‘innna’.
A letter with a shadda does not begin a word.
Kasra may be written under the letter or under the shadda.
When Nun and Mim have a shadda they are given more of a ghunna sound than other letters.
Tanween means doubling of the short vowel signs into Fathatayn (Two Fathas), Dammatayn (Two Dammas), and Kasratayn (Two Kasras).
Tanween is made by adding a ‘n’ sound to the short vowels.
In Fathatayn, letters are recited (AN). (i.e. بً bann)
In Kasratayn, the sound is (İN) (i.e. تٍ tin)
In Dammatayn, the sound is (UN) (i.e. سٌ sunn)
For now just focus o how these words are implemented and not on the extension counts which will come later as you progress to other sections.
The Aleph elongates the Fat-ha vowel to produce a long AA sound.
On the other hand, the Waw extends the Damma vowel to form a long OO sound,
While the Yaa prolongs the Kasra vowel to produce a long EE sound.
