Vowels In Arabic: All Short And Long Arabic Vowels

Vowels In Arabic

The vowel sounds in Arabic are very important because they can change the meaning of words. Sometimes, just one vowel sound can make the difference between two words.

In this lesson, you’ll learn about all the vowels in Arabic. This includes everything you need to know to start reading and pronouncing Arabic correctly.

Vowels in Arabic

In Arabic, vowels are called harakat (حَرَكَات), and the singular form is harakah (حَرَكَة). They aren’t actual letters, but small symbols placed above or below a letter. These vowels are simple and limited, making it easy to pronounce words correctly.

How Many Vowels Are in Arabic?

Arabic has three vowels: [a], [i], and [u]. Each of these short vowels also has a matching long vowel, making a total of six vowels in Arabic.

What Are the Short Vowels in Arabic?

The short vowels in Arabic are called al-harakat al-qaseerah (الحَرَكَاتُ الْقَصِيرَة). These short vowels aren’t written as letters in Arabic, but as small marks, called harakat (حَرَكَات), placed above or below the letters they follow.

It’s important to note that these vowels are not usually written in Modern Standard Arabic. However, they are used in the Quran, religious texts, children’s books, and grammar books to help ensure words are pronounced correctly.

READ ALSO: Arabic Cases Meaning, Types And Examples

How Many Short Vowels Are in Arabic?

There are 3 short vowel marks in Arabic. These marks help the letters make sounds, similar to how vowels work in English. The three short vowels in Arabic are:

  • The Fatha
  • The Kasra
  • The Dhamma

Arabic Short Vowels

In Arabic, short vowels are shown by three small marks placed above or below the letter before them.

Just like you can’t form a word in English without one of the five vowels, you can’t make a word in Arabic without using a vowel mark.

For example, by changing the vowel marks on the word علم, you get different words with different meanings: عَلِمَ (he knew) is an active verb, عُلِمَ (was known) is a passive verb, عِلْم (science) is a noun, عَلَم (flag) is a noun, and عَلَّمَ (to educate), among others.

So, it’s important for learners of Arabic to know how to use these vowel marks from the start. The Arabic short vowels are:

Fatha in Arabic

The Fatha, written as الْفَتْحَة, is a short vowel shown by a small horizontal line above the letter. It represents the sound [a] and looks like this: (ــَـ).

  • Examples:
  • He went: ذَهَبَ
  • He washed: غَسَلَ
  • He wrote: كَتَبَ

Kasra in Arabic

The Kasra, written as الْكَسْرَة, is a short vowel shown by a small horizontal line below the letter. It represents the sound [i] and looks like this: (ــِـ).

  • Examples:
  • Tongue: لِسَان
  • Girl: بِنت
  • He heard: سَمِعَ

Dhamma in Arabic

The Dhamma, written as الضَّمَّة, is a short vowel that looks like a small letter Waw (و) above the letter. It represents the sound [u] and looks like this: (ــُـ).

  • Examples:
  • Ball: كُرَة
Vowels Arabic

Arabic Letters With Vowels (Short Vowels)

Here is the list of Arabic letters with vowels:

Arabic LettersFathaKasraDhamma
اأَإِأُ
ببَبِبُ
تتَتِتُ
ثثَثِثُ
ججَجِجُ
ححَحِحُ
خخَخِخُ
ددَدِدُ
ذذَذِذُ
ررَرِرُ
ززَزِزُ
سسَسِسُ
ششَشِشُ
صصَصِصُ
ضضَضِضُ
ططَطِطُ
ظظَظِظُ
ععَعِعُ
غغَغِغُ
ففَفِفُ
ققَقِقُ
ككَكِكُ
للَلِلُ
ممَمِمُ
ننَنِنُ
ههَـهِـهُـ
ووَوِوُ
ييَيِيُ

Arabic Long Vowels

Arabic long vowels are called al-harakat al-taweela (الْحَرَكَاتُ الطَّوِيلَة). They are represented by three letters that have a sukuun (a small circle meaning no vowel sound) over them. Long vowels are held for about twice as long as short vowels.

How Many Long Vowels Are in Arabic?

There are three long vowels in Arabic: Alif, Yaa, and Waaw. The Alif (ـا) sounds like [aa], the Yaa (ـيـ) sounds like [ii], and the Waaw (ـو) sounds like [uu].

In Arabic, these letters are also called the weak letters (ahruuf al-‘illah أَحْرُفُ العِلَّة) or the letters of prolongation (ahruuf al-madd أَحْرُف المَدّ).

The Alif ـا

The Alif, pronounced [aa], is a long version of the Fatha, turning the short “a” sound into a long “aa.” It always has a sukuun over it, and the letter before it must have a Fatha.

Because it’s always saakina (with a sukuun) and must follow a letter with a Fatha, it never appears at the beginning of a word.

  • Examples:
  • Witness: شَاهِد (shāhid)
  • Writer: كَاتِب (kātib)
  • Player: لَاعِب (lā‘ib)

The Yaa ـيـ

The Yaa, pronounced [ii], is a long version of the Kasra, making the short “i” sound into a long “ii.” Like the Alif, it always has a sukuun over it, and the letter before it must have a Kasra.

If the Yaa appears at the start of a word, it’s not a long vowel but a consonant.

  • Examples:
  • Beautiful: جَمِيل (jamīl)
  • Expert: خَبِير (khabīr)
  • Happy: سَعِيد (sa‘īd)

The Waaw ـو

The Waaw, pronounced [uu], is a long version of the Dhamma, extending the short “u” sound into a long “uu.” It always has a sukuun over it, and the letter before it must have a Dhamma.

Since it’s always saakina and must follow a letter with a Dhamma, it never appears at the beginning of a word.

  • Examples:
  • Sheep   خَرُوف
  • Garlic   ثُوم
  • Light   نُور
Arabic Vowels

Arabic Letters Vowels (Long Vowels)

Arabic LettersAlifYaaWaaw
اآإِيأُو
ببَابِيبُو
تتَاتِيتُو
ثثَاثِيثُو
ججَاجِيجُو
ححَاحِيحُو
خخَاخِيخُو
ددَادِيدُو
ذذَاذِيذُو
ررَارِيرُو
ززَازِيزُو
سسَاسِيسُو
ششَاشِيشُو
صصَاصِيصُو
ضضَاضِيضُو
ططَاطِيطُو
ظظَاظِيظُو
ععَاعِيعُو
غغَاغِيغُو
ففَافِيفُو
ققَاقِيقُو
ككَاكِيكُو
للاَلِيلُو
ممَامِيمُو
ننَانِينُو
ههَاهِيهُو
ووَاوِيوُو
ييَايِييُو

Sukoon (سُكُون)

The Sukoon indicates that a consonant has no vowel sound after it, making it “silent.” It is marked by a small circle above the letter.

  • Example Words:
    • بْ (b): The letter ب with a Sukoon is just “b,” with no vowel.
    • مَدْرَسَة (madrasah): Meaning “school.” The د with a Sukoon is pronounced without a vowel, making it “d.”
    • قِرْطَاس (qirṭās): Meaning “paper.” The ر with a Sukoon indicates it’s silent.

Shadda (شَدَّة)

The Shadda doubles the consonant sound, making it strong or pronounced twice. It is marked by a small W shape above the letter.

  • Example Words:
    • بَّ (bba): The letter ب with a Shadda is pronounced “bba,” like two “b” sounds.
    • مُدَرِّس (mudarris): Meaning “teacher.” The Shadda on ر indicates the “r” sound is doubled.
    • أَمَّة (umma): Meaning “nation” or “community.” The Shadda on م doubles the “m” sound.

Similar Posts