Arabic Short Vowels With Examples

Curious about the story behind the unique marks attached to Arabic writing, known as Arabic short vowels? Do you know the reason they were innovated and how the system developed throughout history?

In this article, we will explore the meaning of Arabic short vowels, listing each one with supporting examples. We will also provide key reasons for learning these short vowels, helping learners start their journey of mastering Arabic properly. Keep reading for deeper insights!

What Are The Arabic Short Vowels?

Arabic short vowels are diacritical marks–known as حركات /harakat/–attached to Arabic letters to indicate their pronunciation based on the word’s meaning and grammatical context. These short vowels are essential for proper reading and pronunciation in Arabic. The Arabic short vowels include:

1. Fathah (ــَ):

The Fathah corresponds to the /a/ sound in English. It is placed above the Arabic letter, altering its sound in the word.

• Example: When the letter ج (/jeem/) has a Fathah above it (جَ), it is pronounced as /ja/.

2. Kasrah (ــِ):

The Kasrah corresponds to the /i/ sound in English. It is placed below the Arabic letter, changing its sound in the word.

• Example: When the letter ج (/jeem/) has a Kasrah below it (جِ), it is pronounced as /ji/.

3. Dhammah (ــُ):

The Dhammah corresponds to the /u/ sound in English. It is placed above the Arabic letter, modifying its sound in the word.

• Example: When the letter ج (/jeem/) has a Dhammah above it (جُ), it is pronounced as /ju/.

Understanding Arabic short vowels is crucial for distinguishing between different pronunciations and grammatical cases in Arabic, an important step for beginners to improve reading and comprehension.

Examples of short vowels in Arabic letters & words

Following is a chart showing a selection of arabic letters in their different pronunciation cases attached to short vowels with examples in words:

What Is the Significance Of Arabic Short Vowels?

Arabic short vowels are especially important for beginners and non-native Arabic speakers due to their unfamiliarity with Arabic words, styles, and contexts. Below are key reasons for the significance of short vowels in Arabic:

1. Assist in Pronunciation of the Quran and Arabic Texts

Mastering Arabic short vowels helps learners pronounce Arabic words correctly, especially when combined with other pronunciation rules, such as those taught in the Noor Al-Bayan system. For example, a beginner can easily read the Arabic word كَتَبَ (/kataba/) because the short vowels provide clarity on how to pronounce it.

2. Improve Understanding of Arabic Context

Short vowels, especially those used at the ends of Arabic words, assist readers in understanding the grammatical context of a sentence. They align with Arabic grammar rules to clarify the roles of words in a sentence. For instance:

• The boy came (جَاءَ ٱلْوَلَدُ): The noun الوَلَدُ has a Dhammah (ـُ) at the end, indicating it is the subject.
• I saw the boy (رَأَيْتُ ٱلْوَلَدَ): The noun الوَلَدَ has a Fathah (ـَ) at the end, showing it is the object.
• I greeted the boy (سَلَّمْتُ عَلَى ٱلْوَلَدِ): The noun الوَلَدِ has a Kasrah (ـِ) at the end, indicating it is in the genitive case (part of a prepositional phrase).

3. Enhance Understanding of Arabic Words

Many Arabic words share the same root letters but differ in meaning based on the diacritics, including short vowels. For example:

• دَرَسَ is a verb meaning “studied.”
• الدَّرْسُ is a noun meaning “the lesson.”
  Short vowels help learners distinguish between such words and grasp their meanings accurately.

4. Highlight the Beauty of the Arabic Language

Arabic is one of the oldest and richest Semitic languages, chosen by Almighty God for the Quran. One of its unique features is its wide-ranging sound system, represented by only 28 letters enhanced with short vowels. This makes Arabic a versatile language for phonetics and showcases its miraculous linguistic system. Understanding short vowels enables learners to appreciate the superiority of Arabic as the language of the Quran.

Thus, Arabic short vowels are essential for learners and speakers at various levels. They aid in accurate pronunciation of the Quran and Arabic texts, improve comprehension of grammatical structures, and highlight the uniqueness of the Arabic language.

What Is The Proper Time For Learning Arabic Short Vowels?

It is significant for learners to start learning Arabic letters directly alongside their short vowels. In other words, letters should be learned by their sounds, not by their isolated names, to avoid confusion for beginners and young learners and to facilitate proper pronunciation. For example, learners should first learn (أَ – إِ – أُ) /a, i, u/ sounds, followed by (بَ – بِ – بُ) /ba, bi, bu/, and so on, instead of initially focusing on the names /alif/, /baa’/. These names should be introduced later in the learning process.

How Were Arabic Short Vowels Developed Through History?

In the early generations of Arabs, there was no need for short vowels or other aids to understand Arabic speech. The language was naturally understood due to its oral tradition and the familiarity of native speakers. However, as the Muslim empire expanded and non-native Arabs embraced Islam, the need arose for a system to aid in Arabic pronunciation, primarily to ensure that the Quran was recited and understood correctly.

1. Abu Al-Aswad Al-Du’ali’s Innovated System:

The first system of short vowels was innovated by Abu Al-Aswad Al-Du’ali, a renowned Muslim scholar. His system involved adding red dots to the black Arabic script:

• A dot above the letter represented Fathah.
• A dot beside the letter represented Dhammah.
• A dot below the letter represented Kasrah.

2. Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad’s Development:

The famous Muslim linguist Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad later refined this system, replacing the red dots with distinct diacritical marks that are still in use today. Thus, the short vowel developed system became easier and more practical for different levels of language learners. 

The development of short vowels in Arabic demonstrates the language’s adaptability and the sincere efforts of its scholars to preserve the Quran, Islam, and Arabic heritage, and safeguard the correct pronunciation of Arabic.

Read more about: Arabic Long Vowels With Examples and Exercises

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Conclusion 

To conclude, Arabic short vowels form a unique system that helps the Arabic reader accurately read and comprehend Arabic words and their context. Muslim scholars innovated and developed this system to preserve the Quran and Islamic heritage, and it later became a widespread method for various needs in learning Arabic, the oldest and richest Semitic language. Renew your intention in learning Arabic for strong motivation and great reward from Almighty Allah.