Arabic Grammar Notes

Jihad’s Arabic Grammar Notes

The ‘alif-ba’According to My Transliteration: aa, b, t, th, j, H, kh, d, dh, r, z, s, sh, S, D, T, TH, `(this is not ’, but the thing on the left of my ‘1’ key), rh, f, q, k, l, m, n, h, w (or oo), y (or ee). ‘fatHatun’: a; ‘Dammatun’: u; ‘kasratun’: i; ‘shaddatun’: xx; ‘tanweenun’: I add a ‘n’ to the ‘harakatun’; ‘hamzatu-l’qaTa`i’: I just write the ‘harakatun’ or a ‘ ‘ ’ when necessary; ‘hamzatu-l’waSli’ (when not pronounced): -x’; (when pronounced): same as ‘hamzatu-l’qaTa’i’.

Three Kinds of Words in Arabic:
Verb Noun, Pronoun, Adjective, Adverb Letter, Particle

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Note: The singular ‘ismun’ has a ‘hamzatu-l’waSli’, but not the plural.

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Vowels:

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Moon Letters:

Sun Letters:

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A good mnemonic: the Sun Letters contain all pairs (but not triples) - except ‘a`ynun’ and ‘rhaynun’ - and ‘noonun’ (when the sun shines) and ‘lamun’ (two ‘sukoons’ in a row). When a word beginning with a definite ‘alif lam’ is immediately followed by a Sun Letter, the ‘lamun’ is not pronounced. Instead, the ‘alifun’ (a ‘hamzatu-l’waSli’) combines together with the Sun Letter, which takes a ‘shaddatun’ (e.g. ‘alHuroofu-l’shamsiyyatu’ becomes ‘alHuroofu-sh’shamsiyyatu’). Moon Letters pronounce the ‘lamun’.

Two Kinds of ‘hamzatun’:
‘hamzatu-l’waSli’ (The “Silent” ‘hamzatun’)

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This ‘hamzatun’ prefers, in conversation, to remain silent unless it is forced to speak. The ‘waSli’ sign (a ‘Sadun’ over the ‘alifun’) is only written when the ‘hamzatun’ is not pronounced – otherwise, just write the ‘alifun’ with ‘harakaatun’. This ‘hamzatun’ connects between words (e.g. ‘hamzatu al-waSli’ becomes ‘hamzatu-l’waSli’). It is always present (though not always written) on the definite ‘alif lam’. It is only pronounced when it begins the sentence. Remember: Arabic doesn’t like two ‘sukoonun’s in a row – but even if you don’t have the ‘sukoonun’s, you still