Lesson 8: Letters – س (Seen), ش (Sheen)
The Arabic letters س (seen) and ش (sheen) are similar in shape, but they can be distinguished whether they have three dots above or not.
Pronunciation, Transcription & Letter Connections
While the letter س is pronounced as a regular /s/, like in the English word "sand", the letter ش is pronounced as a /sh/, like in the English word "show". Both letters are dual-joining, meaning they connect to both the preceding and following letters in a word.
| Final | Medial | Initial | Isolated | Sound | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ـس | ـسـ | سـ | س | /s/ | Seen |
| ـش | ـشـ | شـ | ش | /sh/ | Sheen |
Ready to practice what you’ve learned? Let’s see if you can answer these questions correctly!
This self-guided book is designed for absolute beginners who want to learn how to read and write in Levantine Arabic clearly and confidently. Through step-by-step explanations, engaging exercises, and answer keys at the end of each unit, you’ll build your skills gradually and independently.