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 Vowel | The 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.”
Position | Shape |
---|---|
Final | ـش |
Medial | ـشـ |
Initial | شــ |
Isolated | ش |
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
Word | Translation |
---|---|
شمس | Sun |
شجرة | Tree |
شكر | Thankfulness |
شعير | Barley |
شفاء | Healing |
شهر | Month |
شدة | Intensity |
شوق | Longing |
شيطان | Devil |
شغف | Passion |
Table 2: Initial Form شـ
Word | Translation |
---|---|
شـمس | Sun |
شـجرة | Tree |
شـكر | Thankfulness |
شـعير | Barley |
شـفاء | Healing |
شـهر | Month |
شـدة | Intensity |
شـوق | Longing |
شـيء | Thing |
شـغف | Passion |
Table 3: Medial Form ـشـ
Word | Translation |
---|---|
مـشـمـش | Apricot |
مـشـهور | Famous |
مـشـغول | Busy |
مـشـاوير | Errands |
مـشـورة | Consultation |
مـشـتاق | Longing |
مـشـتنق | Suffocation |
مـشـكل | Problem |
مـشـاهدة | Watching |
مـشـترى | Buyer |
Table 4: Final Form ـش
Word | Translation |
---|---|
دُش | Dish |
كُوش | Couch |
جُش | Smash |
خُش | Hide |
قُش | Peel |
هُش | Soft |
بُش | Bliss |
لُش | Dance |
سُش | Wash |
رُش | Spray |