Grammar dictionary: Vowel & The Vowel Markings:

In written Arabic we find only three vowels – a, u, i. They can be either long or short – aa, uu, ii. The difference between long and short vowels are important in both speech and writing. How we write and how we pronounce the arabic vowels effects the meaning of the word. The short vowels in Arabic are not a part of the arabic alphabet. The long vowels – aa, uu, ii are represented by the three consonants – ‘alif [ ا ], waaw [ و ], yaa’ [ ى ].

The three vowels and the vowel markings are written over or under the letters like this: السَّلامُ عَلـَيْكـُم ُ - ‘assalaamu @alaykum.

When the vowel markings are written directly above or below the last consonants they are called: إعْرَابٌ - ‘i@raab(un).

The vowel a [ ا ]:

This is called fatHah [ فـَتـْحَة ٌ ]. A letter having this vowel are called maftuuH(un) [ مَـفـْـتـُوح ٌ ].

We see that in قـَلـَم ٌ , meaning “ pen, pencil “, the first 2 letters are مَـفـْـتـُوح ٌ , while in فـَعـَلَ - fa@ala meaning “ he did “ all 3 letters are maftuuH(un).

When it is a vowel of the last letter of a noun it is called an ‘i@raab sign of naSb [ ], and the word is said to be manSuub(un) [ مَنـْصُوبٌ ].

With this in mind we can say that both these words are manSuub(un): الـْفـَوَاحـِش َ , ‘al – fawaaHisha meaning , and الأَوْلا َدَ ‘al – ‘awlaada meaning the kids.

The vowel i [ كـَسْـرَة ٌ ]:

This vowel is called kasrah [ كَسْرَة ٌ ]. A letter having this vowel are called maksuur(un) [ مَكـْسُورٌ ].

Exc.: قـِسط ٌ qisT(un) meaning “ fairness “, and مِيزَانٌ , miizaan(un) meaning “ scales, balances “, where the first letter in each word are maksuur(un) [ مَكـْسُورٌ ].

When it is a vowel of the last letter of a noun it is called an ‘i@raab sign of jarr(un) [ ], and the word is said to be majruur(un) [ مَجـْرُورٌ ].

Exc.: اللـَّـقـَاءِ – ‘al liqaa’i meaning “ the meeting “, and الآيَاتِ – ‘al ‘aayaati meaning “ the signs, proofs “.

The vowel u [ ضـَمـَّة ٌ ]:

The vowel is called Dammah [ ضـَمـَّـة ٌ ( Dammatun ) ]. A letter having this vowel are called maDmuum(un) [ مَضـْمُومٌ ].

Exc.: قـُل – qul meaning “ say !! “ ( imperative – order ), and أ ُ خـْرَى - ‘ukhraa meaning “ other “. The first letter in each word are maDmuum(un) [ مَضـْمُومٌ ].

When it is a vowel of the last letter of a noun it is called an ‘i@raab sign of raf@(un) [ رَفـْعٌ ]. The word is said to be marfuu@(un) [ ].

Exc.: هُوَ – huwa meaning “ he ( third person male sing. ) “, and حُب ٌّ - Hubb(un) meaning “ love, take a liking to “.

The marking sukuun(un) [ سـُكـُون ٌ ]:

This vowel marking sukuun(un) [ سـُكـُون ٌ ] written over a consonant shows us that there is no vowel following the consonant. This means that when you see a consonant having sukuun then another consonant will follow right after. A consonant having this mark is said to be saakin(un) [ سَاكِن ٌ ].

Exc.: مِن ْ – min meaning “ from, of “, and لـَن ْ - lan meaning “ never “. The last letter in each word are saakin(un) [ سَاكِن ٌ ].

When it is a vowel of the last letter of a verb it is called an ‘i@raab sign of jazm [ ]. The word is said to be majzuum(un) [ مَجـْـزُومٌ ].

Exc.: