Language/Standard-arabic/Pronunciation/Alphabet-and-Pronunciation
Hi Arabic learners, ๐
In today's lesson, you will learn how to write the different letters of the Standard Arabic alphabet, how to pronounce these letters whether it is through the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), or through a video with the pronunciation of the letters by a native speaker. You will also find at the end of this lesson a virtual keyboard to be able to type each special character of this language.
As you progress in your Arabic learning journey, you might be interested in exploring the unique Dhad language ุถ and understanding the nuances of the Standard Arabic Pronunciation - Lebanese Accent.
Enjoy your Arabic learning adventure! ๐
Standard Arabic Alphabet and IPA Pronunciation[edit | edit source]
Name | IPA | Letter | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Final | Medial | Initial | Isolated | ||
ุฃูู (Alefun) | /aห/, /ส/ | ูุง | ุง | ||
ุจุงุก (Ba'on) | /b/ | ูุจ | ูุจู | ุจู | ุจ |
ุชุงุก ( Ta'on) | /t/ | ูุช | ูุชู | ุชู | ุช |
ุซุงุก (THa'on) like"therapy" | /ฮธ/ | ูุซ | ูุซู | ุซู | ุซ |
ุฌูู (Jeemun) | /dอกส/ | ูุฌ | ูุฌู | ุฌู | ุฌ |
ุญุงุก (ha'on) | /ฤง/ | ูุญ | ูุญู | ุญู | ุญ |
ุฎุงุก (khaa'on) | /x/ | ูุฎ | ูุฎู | ุฎู | ุฎ |
ุฏุงู (daalun) | /d/ | ูุฏ | ุฏ | ||
ุฐุงู (daalun ) like "the moon" | /รฐ/ | ูุฐ | ุฐ | ||
ุฑุงุก (raa'on) like "room" | /r/ | ูุฑ | ุฑ | ||
ุฒุงู (zaa'ye) | /z/ | ูุฒ | ุฒ | ||
ุณูู (seenun) like "I see" | /s/ | ูุณ | ูุณู | ุณู | ุณ |
ุดูู (sheenun) like"she" | /ส/ | ูุด | ูุดู | ุดู | ุด |
ุตุงุฏ (Saad) like " Sound" | /sหค/ | ูุต | ูุตู | ุตู | ุต |
ุถุงุฏ (Daad) like "Doctor" | /dหค/ | ูุถ | ูุถู | ุถู | ุถ |
ุทุงุก (Taa'on) | /tหค/ | ูุท | ูุทู | ุทู | ุท |
ุธุงุก (Dhaadun) | /รฐหค/ | ูุธ | ูุธู | ุธู | ุธ |
ุนูู (aeenun) | /ส/ | ูุน | ูุนู | ุนู | ุน |
ุบูู (gheen) like the verb to pick up "Ramasser" in French | /ษฃ/ | ูุบ | ูุบู | ุบู | ุบ |
ูุงุก (faa'on) | /f/ | ูู | ููู | ูู | ู |
ูุงู (qaafun) | /q/ | ูู | ููู | ูู | ู |
ูุงู (kaafun) | /k/ | ูู | ููู | ูู | ู |
ูุงู (laamun) | /l/ | ูู | ููู | ูู | ู |
ู ูู (meemun) | /m/ | ูู | ูู ู | ู ู | ู |
ููู (nounun) | /n/ | ูู | ููู | ูู | ู |
ูุงุก (Haa'on) like "Hello" | /h/ | ูู | ููู | ูู | ู |
ูุงู (waawun) like "wath?" | /w/, /uห/ | ูู | ู | ||
ูุงุก (yeaa'on) like "Yes" | /j/, /iห/ | ูู | ููู | ูู | ู |
In Arabic we have Letters like ุง ุจ ุช ุซ ุฌ ุญ ..... Each letter has a specific pronunciation.
Then we have these small Symbols ( ู - ู - ู ) ( ู - ู - ู ) ( ู ) ( ู) we add to the Letter to change their pronunciation.
symbols: ( ู ) ( ู ) ( ู ) "vowels"[edit | edit source]
- The first one is called in Arabic "Fat'ha" and it means you should open your mouth while saying the letter like "A" in french.
- The second one is called "Damma". Your mouth should have a round shape like you're pronouncing a "O".
- The third one is called "Kasra". Your mouth should have the same shape as when you're pronouncing a "E" .
Note :
- When the letter has no vowel or when you do not stop with a vowel at the end of the sentence, it must be replaced by a sekoun ( ู ).
- When pronouncing, Arabs do not stop at the end of their sentences with a vowel.
Examples[edit | edit source]
- If we want to say the letter ( ุจ ) in Arabic, let's add that Fatha to it ( ุจู ). Its pronunciation becomes (Ba). Not a long "a", just a short one.
- if we want to say the letter ( ุจ ) in Arabic, let's add that Damma to it ( ุจู ). Its pronunciation becomes (Bo). Not a long "o", just a short one.
- if we want to say the letter ( ุจ ) in Arabic, let's add that Kasra to it ( ุจู ). Its pronunciation becomes (Be). Not a long "e", just a short one.
The table below will help you with other letters:
letter | name of the letter | pronunciation with Fatha | pronunciation with Damma | pronunciation with Kasra |
---|---|---|---|---|
ุง | Alif | A | O | E of english & i in french |
ุจ | Ba'a | Ba | Bo | Be |
ุช | Ta'a | Ta | To | Te |
ุซ | tha'a (th here must pronounce as [th] in tee[th] | tha | tho | the |
ุฌ | jeem | ja | jo | je |
ุญ | ha'a [h] | ha | Ho | He |
ุฎ | Kha'a [KH] must pronounce as [X letter in Russian] | Kha | Kho | Khe |
ุฏ | daal | da | do | de or di in french |
ุฐ | thaal like english word that | tha | tho | the |
ุฑ | raa like R in english | ra | ro | re |
ุฒ | zayn | za | zo | ze |
ุณ | siin | sa | so | se |
ุด | shiin | sha | sho | she |
ุต | saad magnify | sa | so | se |
ุถ | daad magnify | da | do | de |
ุน | aayn as saying : iraq city | aa | ao | ae |
ุบ | Rayn like R in french | ra | ro | re |
ู | faa | fa | fo | fe |
ู | qaaf close from grand g in french | qa | qo | qe |
ู | kaaf | ka | ko | ke |
ู | laam | la | lo | le |
ู | miim | ma | mo | me |
ู | noon | na | no | ne |
ูู | haa like hello | ha | ho | he |
ู | waaw | wa | wo | we |
ู | yaa | ya | yo | ye |
Please note that the second letter you add has a very short pronunciation.
symbols ( ู )-( ู )-( ู )[edit | edit source]
- The first one is called in Arabic "Tanween Al Fat'h" and it means you should open your mouth while saying the letter like "A" in french then add N at the end of letter.
- The second one is called "Tanween Al Damm". Your mouth should have a round shape like you're pronouncing a "O" and add N at the End of the letter
- The third one is called "Tanween Al Kasr". Your mouth should have the same shape as when you're pronouncing a "E" .and add N at the End of the letter
Examples[edit | edit source]
- If we want to say the letter ( ุจ ) in Arabic, let's add Tanween Al Fat'h to it ( ุจู ). Its pronunciation becomes (Ban). Not a long "a" in french, just a short one.
- if we want to say the letter ( ุจ ) in Arabic, let's add Tanween Al Damm to it ( ุจู ). Its pronunciation becomes (Bon). Not a long "o", just a short one.
- if we want to say the letter ( ุจ ) in Arabic, let's add Tanween Al Kasr to it ( ุจู ). Its pronunciation becomes (Ben). Not a long "e", just a short one.
The table below will help you with other letters:
letter | name of the letter | pronunciation with Tanween Al Fat'h | pronunciation with Tanween Al Damm | pronunciation with Tanween Al Kasr |
---|---|---|---|---|
ุง | Alif | An | On | Ee |
ุจ | Ba'a | Ban | Bon | Ben |
ุช | Ta'a | Tan | Ton | Ten |
ุซ | tha'a (th here must pronounce as [th] in tee[th] | than | thon | then |
ุฌ | jeem | jan | jon | jen |
ุญ | ha'a | han | Hon | Hen |
ุฎ | Kha'a [KH] must pronounce as [X letter in Russian] | Khan | Khon | Khen |
Long pronunciation[edit | edit source]
We can read an arabic letter with a long pronuciation by using three letters (alif-ุฃ, yaa-ู, waaw) after the one that want to read as long :
- we use alif-ุฃ after the long letter who has "fatha" for example : ( ุณู= sa ) long pronunciation is ( ุณูุง=saaa )
- we use waaw-ู after the long letter who has "damma" for example : ( ุณู= so ) long pronunciation is ( ุณูู=sooo )
- we use yaa-ู after the long letter who has "kasra" for example : ( ุณู= si ) long pronunciation is ( ุณูู=siii )
NOTE[edit | edit source]
*When we use the 3 letters (ุง,ู,ู)( alif- yaa- waaw) to make a long pronunciation, we don't give them any damma or kasra or... they have a name is :
horof al-aela ุญูุฑูููู ุงููุนูููุฉู
Video - Standard Arabic Alphabet Pronunciation by a Native Speaker[edit | edit source]
Arabic Online Virtual Keyboard[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]