The Arabic Letter Sheen ش With Examples

Arabic Letter Sheen ش

The letter “ش” (sheen) is the thirteenth letter of the Arabic alphabet. Pronounced like the “sh” in the English word “shoe,” sheen is a voiceless postalveolar fricative that produces a smooth, distinctive sound. Its shape is characterized by three dots arranged in a triangular formation above a base resembling a small, wavy line.

Mastering the pronunciation and various forms of “sheen” is essential for learners of Arabic, as it facilitates accurate pronunciation and effective communication. Understanding its different positions within words is also crucial for reading and writing Arabic correctly.

Sheen appears in many everyday Arabic words and expressions, making it an important letter to recognize and use. Its presence in common phrases, such as “إن شاء الله” (in shaa’ Allah), meaning “God willing,” underscores its significance in daily conversation and cultural expressions.

Articulation of Arabic Letter Sheen ش

The articulation point for the letter “ش” is the middle of the tongue, which meets the hard palate of the roof of the mouth. This articulation is similar to that of the letter “ج” and the consonant “ي,” but with distinct characteristics. The letter “ش” corresponds to the English “sh” sound found in words like “should,” “shall,” and “she.”

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Pronunciation with Short Vowels

The pronunciation of the letter Sheen ش varies with short vowels (حركات) and in the absence of vowels (سكون). Here’s how it sounds:

Marks (Harakat الحركات)The Letter with the Mark
Fatha (الفتحة)شَ
Dhamma (الضمة)شُ
Kasra (الكسرة)شِ
Absence of Short Vowel (سكون)شْ

Pronunciation with Long Vowels

The pronunciation of Sheen ش also changes with long vowels (المدود):

The Long VowelThe Letter with a Long Vowel
Long Vowel “ا” (aa)شا
Long Vowel “و” (oo/uu)شو
Long Vowel “ي” (ee/ii)شي

Writing the Letter ش

To write the letter Sheen “ش,” follow the same basic structure as the letter Seen “س,” but add three dots above it. In handwriting, these three dots are connected and form a shape resembling an overturned “v.”

PositionShape
Finalـش
Medialـشـ
Initialشــ
Isolatedش

Here are four tables with ten examples each of the letter “ش” (sheen) in its four forms: isolated, initial, medial, and final.

Table 1: Isolated Form ش

WordTranslation
شمسSun
شجرةTree
شكرThankfulness
شعيرBarley
شفاءHealing
شهرMonth
شدةIntensity
شوقLonging
شيطانDevil
شغفPassion

Table 2: Initial Form شـ

WordTranslation
شـمسSun
شـجرةTree
شـكرThankfulness
شـعيرBarley
شـفاءHealing
شـهرMonth
شـدةIntensity
شـوقLonging
شـيءThing
شـغفPassion

Table 3: Medial Form ـشـ

WordTranslation
مـشـمـشApricot
مـشـهورFamous
مـشـغولBusy
مـشـاويرErrands
مـشـورةConsultation
مـشـتاقLonging
مـشـتنقSuffocation
مـشـكلProblem
مـشـاهدةWatching
مـشـترىBuyer

Table 4: Final Form ـش

WordTranslation
دُشDish
كُوشCouch
جُشSmash
خُشHide
قُشPeel
هُشSoft
بُشBliss
لُشDance
سُشWash
رُشSpray