january 2003
Let's start the arabic language lessons.
In fact, you will discover that the arabic language is easier than the english, and more beutiful. In the begining it'll sound very difficult, as it has different letters, not simillar to any latin language. So, My advice is not to compare the arabic with any of those languages, at least in the begining.
VERY IMPORTANT TO EVERY ONE .. To be able to read and type the arabic letters in your computer, you have to load the arabic language from your windows cd or from windows update on line.
Let's start ...
The Arabic Alphabet are 28 letters:
الهمزة:
( ء ) ـ ( أ ) ـ ( ـئـ ) ـ ( ئ ) ـ ( ؤ ) ـ ( ـأ )
Al Hamzah: This is the first letter in arabic, which is Similar to the letter (A) in english. You see above 6 different ways to write it. The way it's written depends on its' position in the word and also on the acompanying voul
الباء:
( ب ) ـ ( بـ ) ـ ( ـب )
Al Ba'a: The second letter, and it is the sound. 3 ways to write it, depend on its' position in the word
التاء:
( ت ) ـ ( تـ ) ـ ( ـت)
Al Ta'a: The third letter, it's the sound of the (T) letter in english
الثاء:
( ث ) ـ ( ثـ ) ـ ( ـث)
Al Tha'a: The fourth letter. Its' sound is like the (TH) in english, but with the toungue out of the mouth. Or better to say it's exactly like the letter (Z) in Spanish.
Al THA'A which is ( ث ) Is like the (TH) in english, but you must put part of the tongue out of the mouth and between the teeth In both spanish and greec languages you can find a similar letter, in spanish for those who know it it's the letter (Z) but in greec, I am not sure about the name of the similar letter But I know they have one.
الجيم:
( ج ) ـ ( جـ ) ـ ( ـجـ ) ـ ( ـج )
Al Jeem: Its' sound is like the (J) in english or some times like (G) as well
الحاء:
( ح ) ـ ( حـ ) ـ ( ـحـ ) ـ ( ـح )
Al Ha'a: In fact, its' sound has nothinig simillar in any latin language, but we can say it's simillar to the letter (H) just to make it acceptable, to get the correct sound, you have to get it from the throat
الخاء:
( خ ) ـ ( خـ ) ـ ( ـخـ ) ـ ( ـخ )
Al Kha'a: Also this one has not any simillar in english language, but we used to ranslate it as (KH) to be understood by the english natives: It's the same sound of the (J) in spanish, and also in greec languagewhen you say (Thank you) it is that letter i n greec that you use the KH
IMPORTANT:
Be Careful with the points over and under the letters, In arabic alphabet, the points are part of the letter, and you can change the whole letter (as you see above) if you change one singel point
الدال:
( د ) ـ ( ـد)
Al dal: It's the letter (d) in arabic. I wrote it in small letter precisly to distinguage it from another letter, which it has the sound D as well. In "Al dal" here the "d" sound is very light.
الذال:
( ذ ) ـ ( ـذ )
Al Thal: The exact sound (TH) in english.
Well, It's dificult to decied which letter is it exactly in english, in fact it's a sound between the "th" and the "Z" in inglish. The accent from an arab region to an other is different like in every where, that we can even hear it sounds like (D) the occidental arab countries like Morroco and Tunis, What you have to know for the time being, is the standerd sound.
الراء:
( ر ) ـ ( ـر )
Al Ra'a: Is the letter R in arabic.
الزاى .. الزين:
( ز ) ـ ( ـز )
Has two names which are: Al Zay or Al Zain. But its' sound is the same which is the same (Z) in the english language .. Again, be careful with the points.
Well, this lesson is going to be a little difficult, because you'll learn some letters which share other letters the same sound, but the different among them, is in the way we pronanciate each, let's say, it's between high and low sounds.
السين:
( س ) ـ ( سـ ) ـ ( ـسـ ) ـ ( ـس )
Al Seen: Is the letter (S) is english.
الشين:
( ش ) ـ ( شـ ) ـ ( ـشـ ) ـ ( ـش )
Al Sheen: Is the sound (SH) in english.
الصاد:
( ص ) ـ ( صـ ) ـ ( ـصـ ) ـ ( ـص )
Al Sad: This letter is another (S), the different between (Al SAD) here and the other (Seen) mentioned above, is in the tone: Which means that we use Al SEEN for high (S) and we use AL SAD for the low (S). It's difficult to explain the difference between both of them, but you'll get it with the time and the practice.
الضاد:
( ض ) ـ ( ضـ ) ـ ( ـضـ ) ـ ( ـض )
Al Dad: Here you have another confusing letter, It's another letter for the sound (D) which sounds similar to the letter (DAl) mentioned before: Also here in el (Dad) you can say that we use it for the low tone of the letter (D). while we use (al Dal) for the high tone: You'll get it with the time and practice as well.
الطاء:
( ط ) ـ ( ـط )
AL TA'A: Another confusion with the letter (Ta'a) mentioned before in the begining. The one here is also used for the low tone of the letter T.
الظاء:
( ظ ) ـ ( ـظ )
Al ZA'A: And another one for the sound (Z) in english, also this one is to be used for the low tone.
العين:
( ع ) ـ ( عـ ) ـ ( ـعـ ) ـ ( ـع )
Al Ain: This letter has not any simillar in any latin language, It's sound is close to the sound of the letter (A) But you have to get it from the throat.
الغين:
( غ ) ـ ( غـ ) ـ ( ـغـ ) ـ ( ـغ )
Al Ghain: This is the arabic letter for the sound of the letter R as it sounds in French and German languages.
الفاء:
( ف ) ـ ( فـ ) ـ ( ـفـ ) ـ ( ـف )
Al Fa'a: The sound (F) in arabic.
القاف:
( ق ) ـ ( قـ ) ـ ( ـقـ ) ـ ( ـق )
Al Qaf: Can be the sound of the letter (K) or (Q) or (CA) in english.
الكاف:
( ك ) ـ ( كـ ) ـ ( ـكـ ) ـ ( ـك )
Al Kaf: To be used also to pronounciate the letters (K) or (Q) or (CA) in english. The different between it and the letter above, is that this one is used for the light sound of those letters - You'll get it with the practice as well.
اللام:
( ل ) ـ ( لـ ) ـ ( ـلـ ) ـ ( ـل )
Al Lam: This is the letter (L) in Arabic.
الميم:
( م ) ـ ( مـ ) ـ ( ـمـ ) ـ ( ـم )
Al Meem: The letter (M) in arabic.
النون:
( ن ) ـ ( نـ ) ـ ( ـنـ ) ـ ( ـن )
Al Noon: The letter (N) in arabic.
الهاء:
( ه ) ـ ( هـ ) ـ ( ـهـ ) ـ ( ـه )
Al Ha'a: The letter (H) in arabic as you use it in english.
الواو:
( و ) ـ ( ـو )
Al Waw: This letter is used as the letters (O) , (U) and (W) in english .. it's used as a consunante and voul too. It depends of the word.
الياء:
( ى ) ـ ( ي ) ـ ( يـ ) ـ ( ـيـ ) ـ ( ـى )
AL Ya'a: Is the last letter in the arabic alphabet, and it has a similer sound as the letters: (E), (I) and (Y) in english.
Well, Till here the arabic alphabet are compleat, but we can add 2 more extra letters, not because they are different letters, but because they are used a lot. They are:
(Al Alef) and (Al Lam Alef), here you have them:
الألف:
( ا ) ـ ( ـا )
Al Alef: This is the voul (a) in arabic, as you see, it's a variation of the first letter in the arabic alphabet: (Al Hamza), the different here, is that we don't add that sign over the letter.
اللام ألف:
( لا ) ـ ( ـلا )
Al Lam Alef: As you noticed, it's a compination of 2 letters: (Al Alef) and (Al Lam) It's used a lot in the arabic language. for that reason, you may find it shown in some books as a separat letter.
OK, Now You Know all the letters, the next lesson will show you the vouls.
