Tanween in Arabic refers to the grammatical marking of a noun with a short vowel sound at the end, indicating its indefinite status and case in a sentence. It is represented by diacritical marks placed above or below the final letter of a word.
Tanween serves multiple purposes, including indicating indefiniteness, marking the accusative case, aiding pronunciation, and contributing to proper enunciation. There are three types of Tanween: with Fatha, Kasra, and Damma, each influencing pronunciation differently. Examples illustrate how Tanween is used in Arabic words.
The main letters of the Arabic Language Alphabet are twenty eight letters. But in fact they are more than that. There are other Arabic sounds which are not represented in the form of a letter shape; instead they are introduced into linguistic marks.
In this article, let’s discuss one of the sounds which is not written in the form of a letter. Instead It is written in the form of a phonetic mark under or above the written letter. The sound we are going to discuss is called “Tanween.”
What is Tanween?
Tanween is the sound which is not represented in the form of a letter shape; instead it is transformed into a linguistic mark. This mark can be placed above or under the letter.
Tanween is articulated the same as the sound of (An-noon) with replacing stress on it. Tanween is always placed at the final letter of a noun or an adjective. It is never placed at the initial or at the middle letter of a word.
What Is Tanween in Arabic?
In Arabic, “Tanween” (تنوين) is derived from the root word “n-w-n” (نون) which conveys the idea of “doubling” or “making something two”.
In Arabic grammar, “Tanween” refers to the grammatical term for the indefinite accusative ending “-an” or “-in” that is added to nouns. Tanween indicates that the noun is indefinite (not preceded by “al-“) and is in the accusative case.
The tanween endings are “-an” for the nominative case and “-in” for the genitive case. They are used primarily to indicate indefiniteness and are often seen in the construct state (iḍāfa) in Arabic grammar.
Compare with What is Tanween in Tajweed With Quranic Examples.
What Is the Tanween Meaning in English?
In English, “tanween” is often translated as “final short vowel” or “nunation.” It refers to the grammatical marking of a noun in Arabic with a short vowel sound (a, i, or u) at the end, indicating the noun’s indefinite status and its case in a sentence.
Learning Tanween on your own can be a bit difficult and the process can have a bit of hardships; so, joining an Arabic language course can help you make the process easier and more enjoyable. Check out Arabic grammar courses such as Shaykhi Academy’s to improve your understanding of Tanween properly.
What is the Purpose of Tanween?
Tanween, a fundamental concept in Arabic grammar, serves a great purpose to the language learners who seek fluency.
1- Reading the Holy Quran Accurately:
Firstly, to read the Holy Qur’an in the same way that prevailed on our prophet Mohammed (peace and prayers be upon him). Therefore, many experts suggest joining a Quranic recitation course such as the one held by Shaykhi Academy.
For example, they would read the word “خبيرًا” in the following verse: (إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ بِعِبَادِهِ خَبِيرًۢا بَصِيرًا) in this way “Khabeer” and this is wrong as the correct way is “Khabeeran” so if they don’t know the rules of Tanween they will neglect Pronouncing the hidden sound of letter An-noon.
2- Reading Arabic accurately:
Secondly, to read and write the Arabic language in a very correct and accurate manner, since Muslims learn Arabic for not just reading the Holy Quran efficiently, rather they learn Arabic to read hadith, Tafseer Islamic history. ..etc correctly.
3- Improving one’s listening skills:
If someone doesn’t know the rules of Tanween, they will not be so good at listening to Arabic. Subsequently, they will misunderstand many Arabic listening texts.
4- Indefiniteness:
Tanween is primarily used to indicate that a noun is indefinite, meaning it does not refer to a specific or known entity. For example, “كتابٌ” (kitābun) means “a book.”
5- Case marking:
Tanween helps to mark the accusative case (nominative and genitive) of a noun in Arabic grammar, which is crucial for understanding the grammatical function of the noun in a sentence.
6- Phonetic distinction:
Tanween provides a phonetic distinction in pronunciation between definite (with “al-” prefix) and indefinite nouns, aiding in clarity and proper enunciation.
7- Morphological function:
Tanween is a part of Arabic noun morphology, reflecting the grammatical state of the noun in relation to its function in a sentence.
8- Grammar rules:
Understanding and applying tanween is essential for learners of Arabic as it is a fundamental aspect of Arabic grammar, particularly in the context of case endings.
9- Vocabulary acquisition:
Learning about tanween helps in building vocabulary, as it is encountered frequently in Arabic texts and conversations.
10- Cultural context:
Understanding tanween provides insights into the linguistic nuances of Arabic, which are deeply intertwined with the culture and heritage of Arabic-speaking communities.
What Are Tanween Symbols?
There are three symbols for Tanween. We use them according to the word position in a sentence and the last letter sign, they are as follows:
Tanween with Fateh: It is written like this ( ـــــ ً )
Tanween with Dhamma: It is written like this (ـــــٌ)
Tanween with Kasrah: It is written like this (ــــٍ)
What Is the Influence of Tanween In Arabic on Pronunciation?
As we mentioned, there are three kinds of Tanween, Fateh, kasrah, and Dammah. In the following lines we will explain how to pronounce each kind:
1- How to pronounce Tanween with Fateh ( ًَ ):
With your mouth open, tongue between teeth, Pronounce the sound of the Arabic letter “Noon” while giving it the sound of the short vowel of Al-fateh. The tongue position now is in the upper roof of teeth. It will be close to the sound (an).
2- How to pronounce Tanween with Kasrah ( ٍ ):
With your mouth open Pronounce the sound of the Arabic letter “Noon” while giving it the sound of the short vowel of Al-kasrah. The tongue position is now in between the upper and lower teeth. It will sound like (en).
3- How to pronounce Tanween with Dammah ( ٌ ):
With your mouth open, Pronounce the sound of the Arabic letter “Noon” while giving it the sound of the short vowel of Ad-dammah. The tongue position is now touching the front teeth with the mouth closed. It will be close to the sound (on).
Tanween Examples in Arabic Language:
To understand Tanween even better, you need to observe different Tanween examples, and how it influences the words:
1. Tanween Fath:
Tanween Fath is used to indicate an indefinite accusative noun in the nominative case. It is pronounced as “-an” and is written as a double “fatḥa” above the last letter of the noun.
Tanween Fath Examples:
كتابًا (kitāban) – a book
قلمًا (qalamān) – a pen
طالبًا (ṭālibān) – a student
2. Tanween Kasra:
Tanween Kasra marks an indefinite accusative noun in the accusative case. It is pronounced as “-en” and is represented by a double “kasra” above the last letter of the noun.
Tanween Kasra Examples:
كرسيٍّ (kursiyen) – a chair
بيتٍّ (bayten) – a house
شجرٍّ (shajaren) – a tree
3. Tanween Damma:
Tanween Damma indicates an indefinite accusative noun in the genitive case. It is pronounced as “-on” and is written as a double “Damma” above the last letter of the noun.
Tanween Damma Examples:
حقيبةٌ (haqībatun) – a bag
مسجدٌ (masjidun) – a mosque
ساعةٌ (sāʿatun) – a clock
Tanween is very important for those who aspire to master the speaking skill of the Arabic language. It is essential for interpreting Arabic words.
Tanween rules also play a vital role for improving the reciting ability of the Holy Quran.
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Conclusion:
Understanding Tanween is crucial for mastering Arabic pronunciation, grammar, and Quranic recitation. Its nuanced role in indicating noun indefiniteness and case highlights its significance in Arabic language learning. Mastery of Tanween enhances one’s ability to interpret Arabic texts accurately and contributes to a deeper appreciation of Arabic linguistic nuances.
