Arabic vowels are vital for pronunciation, emerging from the throat and shaped by the lips, giving consonants their voice. There are three short vowels (Fathah, Kasrah, Dhammah) and three long vowels (Alif, Waw, Yaa).
Short vowels use diacritical marks above or below letters to produce distinct sounds, while long vowels extend these sounds. Semivowels, like Waw and Yaa in a silent position, soften the pronunciation.
Mastery of these vowels is crucial for beginners, as they ensure accurate recitation and meaning in Arabic. Their dual function aids both pronunciation and grammar, allowing nuanced expression in the language.
Vowels play a vital role in shaping the sounds and meanings of words in the Arabic language. Vowels in the Arabic language are considered vital elements in the language that help in pronunciation and determining the sounds of words and the sounds of letters. They also serve as markers for the cases of nouns and adjectives in sentences.
This article explains in detail the Arabic vowels for beginners with special emphasis on some important questions such as, What are vowels in Arabic? What are Arabic short vowels and Arabic long vowels? What are the semi vowels in Arabic?
What are Vowels in Arabic?
They are vowel sounds that contribute to determining the pronunciation of a word. Vowels emerge from the throat and the lips contribute to their pronunciation.
The benefit of vowels is to give value to consonantsounds, so that a word cannot be pronounced without vowels; Because of its vowels, which do not make it possible to pronounce it without vowels.
Arabic alphabet with vowels
The Arabic language has six vowels: three short vowels (Fathah, Kasrah, and Dhammah), also known as Al-harakat – الْحَرَكَات, and three long vowels (Alif, Waw, and Yaa), that are known as Huruf Al-madd – حُرُوفُ المَدِّ.
Arabic alphabet With short vowels
Arabic vowels consist of two types, the first of which is short vowels, which are the grammatical vowels (fathah, kasrah, and dhammah). What are they?
| Short Vowel | Description | Example |
| Fathah | Fathah is represented by a small straight line placed above the letter that makes you open your mouth when pronouncing it and produces the short vowel sound “a”. | بَاب |
| Kasrah | kasrah is indicated by a italic line placed below the letter and represents the short vowel sound “i”. | عمِيل |
| Dhammah | dhammah is symbolized by a small symbol in the form of the letter (و) placed above the letter and indicates the short vowel sound “u”. | سحُور |
Arabic alphabet With long vowels
The second type of Arabic vowels are long vowels and include 3 letters: (أ – ي – و).
| Long Vowel | Description | Example |
| Alif (أ) | Represents the long vowel “aa” sound. | الخضارKhodaar in the Arabic language means vegetables, and the vowel letter “ا” came with it to confirm its pronunciation as follows: “Khodaar.” |
| Yaa (ي) | Represents the long vowel “ee” sound. | عظيمAzeem in Arabic means great, and the letter “ي” comes in it to confirm its pronunciation as follows: “Azeem” |
| Waw (و) | Represents the long vowel “oo” sound | خروفKharoof in Arabic means sheep, and the letter “و” is used to confirm its pronunciation as follows: “Kharoof” |
What are Arabic semivowels?
This term is given to Arabic vowel letters when they are used in the silent position (Sukoon).
Semi-vowel letters include two letters: the (Waw و) and (Yaa ي).
If we mentioned that these letters give elongated sounds, i.e. (oo and ee), then in this case their sounds are shorter and softer, so the waw is equivalent to the pronunciation of (u) in the word rule and the Yaa is equivalent to the pronunciation of (i) in the word machine.
For example:
- Semivowel “Waw” In the word (حوْل)
- Semivowel “Yaa” In the word (حسيْن)
Arabic vowels for beginners
Learning the vowels in the Arabic language and how to pronounce them is essential, especially for beginners in learning Arabic, because unconsciously pronouncing these letters may be very difficult.
As a beginner, you can learn this by practicing and practicing the pronunciation of each of these letters and collecting examples of them.
How to read Arabic without vowels?
Native Arab speakers usually read and write Arabic texts without diacritic marks. However, in most cases they can easily figure out the correct pronunciation of words by instinct, except for classical Arabic terms that are uncommonly used nowadays in Modern Standard Arabic.
On the contrary,reading Arabic without knowing the vowels may be challenging, especially for beginnersbut as you become more familiar with Arabic vocabulary you will become able to recognise the proper pronunciation of Arabic words easily through context.
Additionally, you must know the origin of each Arabic word, its roots, and its variations, in order to read Arabic without short vowels, this will enable you to pronounce different Arabic words correctly.
How many short vowels in Arabic?
There are 3 short vowels in Arabic which are (fathah – kasrah – dhammah) each of which plays a crucial role in the pronunciation and meaning of words. These short vowels are:
- Fathah (فَتْحَة): Represented by a small diagonal line placed above a letter (ـَ), the fathah indicates a short “a” sound, similar to the “a” in “cat.”
- Kasrah (كَسْرَة): Indicated by a small diagonal line placed below a letter (ـِ), the kasrah signifies a short “i” sound, akin to the “i” in “sit.”
- Dhammah (ضَمَّة): Shown by a small loop or a tiny “9” shape above a letter (ـُ), the dhammah denotes a short “u” sound, similar to the “u” in “put.”
These short vowels are essential in Arabic as they provide the phonetic framework needed to pronounce words correctly and convey precise meanings, making them a foundational aspect of Arabic grammar and phonetics.
Is Arabic written without vowels?
Arabic is sometimes written with vowels, especially in official objects and educational books. Other times, vowels are not used in writing, and this is more common in daily texts, letters, and informal interactions.
Does Arabic only have 3 vowels?
No, Arabic has 6 vowels (3 of them are short vowels and the other 3 are long vowels).
How many vowels are there in the Quran?
Considering that the Holy Quran is the origin of the Arabic language, it cannot be separated from it, as the Arabic language is a branch of the origin.
The Holy Quran contains the same number of vowels as those in the Arabic language, although their number sometimes differs depending on the type of reading, but the general rule is that the number of vowels in the Holy Quran is the same as those in the Arabic language.
Arabic Vowels Chart
Now, that you have learned everything about Arabic vowels, let’s summarize what you have learned in this Arabic Vowel Chart.
What is the Difference Between Long and Short Vowels in Arabic?
Arabic long and short vowels differ in many ways. Let us make a brief comparison between them with practical examples on each:
| Point of comparison | Short Arabic vowels | Long Arabic Vowels |
| Vowel | FathahDammahKasrah | AlifWawYaa |
| Is it a part of the word? | No, they are additional marks that help in the proper pronunciation of Arabic words in addition to their grammatical significance. | Yes, long Arabic vowels are considered a part of the word. Their commission can change the meaning of words. |
| Duration | Shorter duration (approximately one finger count). | Longer duration (usually two finger counts) |
| Examples | كَتَبَ – kataba – wrote | كَاتِب – kateb – writer |
What are Arabic semivowels?
As we mentioned above, the semivowels are the letters “waw” and “Yaa”, but when they are in a state of Sukoon, their pronunciation becomes less pronounced.
Double functionality of Arabic vowels
Arabic vowels have a unique property known as double function. What do it mean?
The dual function means that vowels do not perform a single role most of the time. They serve two functions, for example:
1. Pronunciation and grammar:
Short vowels play an important role in guiding pronunciation, helping the learner to pronounce words correctly, and at the same time, these vowels carry essential grammatical information such as case endings and verb conjugations.
2. Flexibility in meaning:
The dual function of Arabic vowels allows flexibility in meaning. By changing or deleting certain vowel marks, different shades of meaning can be conveyed within a word.
The dual function of Arabic vowels adds complexity to the language by providing pronunciation guidance and important grammatical cues.
What is the Difference Between Arabic Vowels and English Vowels?
Let us now highlight the main differences between Arabic vowels and English vowels in the comparison table below:
| Point of comparison | Arabic Vowels | English Vowels |
| Number of vowels | A total of six vowels (3 short vowels, and 3 long vowels). | Five English letters (A, E, I, O, U). |
| Function | They have a dual function (i.e they serve a phonetic as well as a grammatical function). | They have no grammatical function. |
| Their form | Long Arabic vowels are an integral part of the word, while short Arabic vowels are signs written on top or below letters. | English vowels constitute an integral (inseparable) part of the word. |
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Conclusion:
Arabic vowels are essential sounds that shape the pronunciation of words, emerging from the throat with the help of the lips. They give consonant sounds their value, making it impossible to pronounce words correctly without them.
Arabic features three short vowels (Fathah, Kasrah, and Dhammah) and three long vowels (Alif, Waw, and Yaa). Short vowels are indicated by diacritical marks: Fathah (a small line above the letter), Kasrah (a line below), and Dhammah (a small loop above), each producing distinct sounds essential for proper pronunciation.
Long vowels in Arabic include Alif (aa), Waw (oo), and Yaa (ee), extending the vowel sounds. Additionally, Arabic has semivowels like Waw and Yaa when in a silent (Sukoon) position, giving softer sounds. Beginners must practice these vowels to grasp Arabic pronunciation, as reading without vowels can be challenging without context.
Despite sometimes being omitted in informal texts, vowels play a crucial role in ensuring accurate recitation and meaning, as seen in the Quran. Arabic vowels also have a double functionality, guiding both pronunciation and grammar while allowing flexibility in meaning through subtle changes.
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