- In this lesson we will learn about the definite article الْ which corresponds to the word 'The' in the English Language (known as the definite article in grammar as it refers to a specific object).
- Take particular note of the change in the vowel ending when a word is changed to its definite form, i.e. the /tanwīn/ (double vowel) which represents indefinite form e.g. (a house) has been changed to a single /đammah/. It is hence also important to remember that a word can never take /alif lām/ at the beginning and /tanwīn/ at the same time (i.e. it can never be both indefinite and definite at the same time).
- Remember to always start reading the examples below from right to left. The first example below will illustrate the change from indefinite form (e.g. a house) to definite form (e.g. the house).
Please click on the words to hear speech, i.e. how the words should be pronounced.
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The mosque: A mosque
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The book: A book
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The pen: A pen
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The house: A house
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- We will study some practical sentences using the definite article الْ which corresponds to 'the' in the English language In-Shā'-Allâh (God-Willing).
Please click on the words to hear speech
Picture
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Answer
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Question
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The pen is broken.
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The door is open.
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The boy is sitting and the teacher is standing.
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- We shall continue with some more practical sentences, please make an effort to memorise the words and common sentence structures.
Please click on the words to hear speech.
Picture
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English
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Arabic
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The book is new and the pen is old.
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The donkey is small and the horse is big.
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The chair is broken.
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The handkerchief is dirty.
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The water is cold.
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The moon is beautiful.
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The house is near and the mosque is far away.
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The stone is heavy and the paper is light.
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The milk is hot.
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The shirt is clean.
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The Moon and Sun Letters - اَلْحُرُوفُ الْقَمَرِيَّةُ وَالْحُرُوفُ الشَّمْسِيَّة
- In this section we will learn some new vocabulary and we shall also learn the rules relating to the sun and moon letters. The most important point to understand with this rule is that it governs the spoken (pronunciation) Arabic and not the written word.
- Arabic has 28 letters. Of these 14 letters are called Solar Letters, and the other 14 are called Lunar letters. In the articulation (speaking) of the Solar letters, the tip or blade of the tongue is involved as in t, n, r, s, etc. The tip or blade of the tongue does not play any part in the articulation of the Lunar Letters as in b, w, m, k etc.
- When /alif-lām/ “al” is prefixed to a noun beginning with a Solar letter, the “l” of “al” is assimilated (joined) to the Solar Letter, e.g. al-shamsu (the sun) is pronounced /ash-shamsu/.
- No change takes place in writing اَلشَّمْسُ. The assimilation is indicated by the /shaddah/ on the first letter of the noun after “al”.
- No such assimilation takes place with the Lunar Letters, e.g. /al-qamaru/ (the moon) is pronounced /al-qamaru/ اَلْقَمَرُ. Here are some more examples of the assimilation of the “l” of “al” to the Solar Letters (don't worry about the meanings of the words yet):
- /al-naĵmu/ becomes /an-naĵmu/.
- /al-raĵulu/ becomes /ar-raĵulu/.
- /al-dīku/ becomes /ad-dīku/.
- /al-samaku/ becomes /as-samaku/.
- Note that the “a” of “al” is pronounced only when it is not preceded by another word. If it is preceded by a word it is dropped in pronunciation, though it remains in writing, e.g. /wal-baitu/. Here the “a” is dropped and the phrase is pronounced /wal-baitu/ not /wa al-baitu/. To indicate this omission in pronunciation, this sign: (
) is placed above the /alif/.
- The initial vowel (a, i, or u) which is omitted when preceded by a word is called /hamazatu l-wasl/.
- We have learnt that the /tanwīn/ is the indefinite article, and it is to be translated as “a” e.g.: بَيْتٌmeans a house. This rule does not apply to adjectives like مَفْتُوحٌ "open", and مَكْسُورٌ "broken".
- The sentence above means "The Moon and The Sun Letters". See section 7 (which should have already been covered) if you do not already understand the rules relating to the sun and the moon letters. Remember, this rule affects the pronunciation of the word and not the written form. Please listen carefully to the pronunciation. Pay attention to how in the Sun Letters اَلْحُرُوفُ الشَّمْسِيَّةُ, the /lām/ of /alif-lām/ is assimilated to the first letter in pronunciation. The table below covers each letter in the Arabic alphabet along with an example of a word which starts with that letter under the relevant column depending on whether it is a sun or moon letter.
- The sentence above means "The Moon and The Sun Letters". See section 7 (which should have already been covered) if you do not already understand the rules relating to the sun and the moon letters. Remember, this rule affects the pronunciation of the word and not the written form. Please listen carefully to the pronunciation. Pay attention to how in the Sun Letters اَلْحُرُوفُ الشَّمْسِيَّةُ, the /lām/ of /alif-lām/ is assimilated to the first letter in pronunciation. The table below covers each letter in the Arabic alphabet along with an example of a word which starts with that letter under the relevant column depending on whether it is a sun or moon letter.
The Sun LettersThe Moon LettersExercise – تَدْرِيبٌ- The sentence above says: "Read and write the words keeping in mind the rules pertaining to the Solar and Lunar Letters". Once again, please write the words below with a pen and paper and read the words prior to clicking on them below to hear the correct pronunciation. As these words have already been covered before, the vowel-marks and diacritical marks (e.g. /fatħah/, /kasrah/, /đammah/, /sukūn/ etc) have not been used over the letters. This is the way standard Arabic is written and it is important to get used to this.
EXERCISE:Revision - مُرَاجَعَةٌVocabulary Revision – مُرَاجَعَةُ الْمُفْرَدَاتِSweetSickShopRichTallPoorShortAppleColdHotSittingStandingNewOldNearFar AwayCleanDirtySmallBigLightHeavyPaperWaterBeautiful
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