Vowels

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.

Short Vowels

1. Fathah

Fathah is represented by ـَ and is pronounced as ‘a’ in the English word “above”.

2. Dammah

Dammah is represented by ـُ and is pronounced as ‘u’ in the English word “put”.

3. Kasrah

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 (ـــّــ)

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.