In Arabic, sukoon and jazm are grammatical states that differ in context and usage. The difference between Sukoon and Jazm lies in their functions—Sukoon is a phonetic symbol showing the absence of a vowel on any letter, while Jazm is a grammatical case that affects present-tense verbs in Arabic to indicate negation, condition, or command.
Here’s an explanation of the differences between them with examples:
Jazm Meaning
Jazm is a grammatical case that affects verbs in the present tense (المضارع), used to express conditionality, negation, or imperative.
Jazm is marked by placing a Sukoon on the final letter of the verb, dropping the final noon in the five verbs, or dropping the final long vowel in weak verbs.
For Example:
1. Sukoon on the final letter:
The verb “يكتب” (he writes) in the Jazm case becomes “لم يكتب” (he did not write), where the Sukoon on the final letter indicates Jazm.
2. Dropping the noon in the five verbs:
The verb “يلعبون” (they play) in the Jazm case becomes “لم يلعبوا” (they did not play), where the final noon is dropped.
3. Dropping the final long vowel in weak verbs:
The verb “يسعى” (he strives) in the jazm case becomes “لم يسع” (he did not strive), where the final long vowel is dropped.
Sukoon Meaning
Sukoon is a diacritical mark placed above a letter to indicate the absence of a vowel (a vowel-less state).
Sukoon in Tajweed is used to clarify the correct pronunciation of a word in written texts and Tajweed (the rules of Quranic recitation).
For Example:
The word “kitab” (book) can be written in Arabic with diacritics as “كِتَابٌ”. To show the sukoon in the middle of the word, it can be written as “كِتْابٌ”, where the sukoon above the letter “ت” indicates the absence of a vowel.
Read a full guide on Sukoon in Arabic.
Key Differences Between Sukoon and Jazm
Sukoon is used to indicate the pronunciation in any part of the word (middle or end) and denotes the absence of a vowel.
Jazm is a grammatical case that affects verbs in the present tense only and is used for specific grammatical purposes like conditionality, negation, and imperative.
In summary, Sukoon is a phonetic mark indicating the absence of a vowel on a letter, while Jazm is a grammatical state affecting verbs in the present tense used for specific grammatical functions.
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Conclusion:
In short, Sukoon guides pronunciation by marking vowel-less letters, whereas Jazm changes verb forms in specific grammatical contexts—knowing both is essential for mastering Arabic grammar and Quranic recitation.
