Lesson 4: Short Vowels (Harakaat)

There are two type of vowels in Arabic: long vowels (ا - و - ي) and their equivalent short vowels. Arabic has three short vowels, and they are not written as full letters — instead, they are shown using diacritical marks (called harakaat حركات), which are placed above or below the consonants.

Pronunciantion & Transcription

Short vowels replicate the same sounds as long vowels. However, as their name indicates, they last only one beat, unlike long vowels, which are held longer.

Long vowel Sound Equivalent short vowel Sound
Alif ا /aa/ - /ee/ ــَـ Fatha /a/ - /e/
Waw و /w/ - /ou/ - /oo/ - /uu/ ــُـ Damma /u/ - /o/
Yaa ي /y/ - /ii/ - /ee/ ــِـ Kasra /i/ - /e/

Writing the Harakaat 

Arabic uses diacritical marks called Harakaat to represent short vowel sounds. These vowels cannot stand alone, meaning they must be carried by another letter, be it a consonant or a vowel.

      • Fatha (بَ) – short "a" sound written as a line placed above the letter /ba/

      • Kasra (بِ) – short "i" sound, written as a line below the letter /bi/

      • Damma (بُ) – short "u" sound, written as a tiny Waw و above the letter /bu/

 

In Arabic, short vowels can’t start a word on their own. They must be attached to a letter— but what happens when a word begins with a short vowel sound?

 

It this case, Arabic uses a special letter — the alif with a hamza (أ) — to carry the short vowel. Since the Alif is just being used as a holder, it doesn’t create any sound, instead it will sound just like the short vowel it holds. 

 

Long vowel Sound Short vowel Sound Short vowel at the beginning of a word Sound
ا Alif /aa/ - /ee/ ــَـ Fatha /a/ - /e/ أَ Alif with fatha /a/
و Waw /w/ - /ou/ - /oo/ - /uu/ ــُـ Damma /u/ - /o/ أُ Alif with Damma /u/ - /o/
ي Yaa /y/ - /ii/ - /ee/ ــِـ Kasra /i/ - /e/ إِ Alif with Kasra /i/ - /e/

Peculiar Characteristics of the Harakaat 

 

  • They are not full letters:
    → Ḥarakaat are diacritical marks, not independent letters. They sit above or below other letters.

  • They cannot appear alone:
    → A short vowel must be attached to a letter— it can’t float by itself.→ When a short vowel appears at the beginning of a word it needs a carrier: أ the alif with hamza.

  • They are usually not written in everyday Arabic:
    → In newspapers, books, and most native-level writing, all harakaat are omitted. Native speakers read without them, as they are only used in:

    • Children's books and language-learning material

    • Qur’an and religious texts

    • Artistic writting

  • They are rarely used at the end of a word:
    → Short vowels typically appear on internal letters or at the beginning held by the أ. Words rarely end in a short vowel, so if you hear a vowel at the end it usually is a long vowel (ا، و، ي)

  • They are very short in duration (one beat):
    → Unlike long vowels (ا، و، ي), the harakaat are quick and light.
    Example: بَ vs با

    • بَ = ba (short)

    • با = baa (long)

 

Ready to practice what you’ve learned? Let’s see if you can answer these questions correctly!

How would you write "benet" which means "girl" in Arabic?

بِنِت

  • Note that both the Fatha /a/ and the Kasra /i/ can be pronounced as an /e/, however in the word "benet" the two short vowels are a kasra.

How would you write "Ana wenta bi beito" which means "I and you are in his house" in Arabic?

أَنا وإِنتَ بِ بَيتو

  • Note that in the word "ana" and "enta", the first vowels are short and thus must be held by the Alif with a Hamza.
  • Note that while words do not usually end in short vowels "enta" and "bi" are exceptions and their final vowel can be written both as a short or as a long vowel.
  • Note that both the Kasra and the Fatha can be pronouned as an /e/ but in the case of the word "house بَيت", the /e/ sound is a Fatha.

Learn to Read and Write in Levantine Arabic – At Your Own Pace

€50.00

Learn to Read and Write in Levantine Arabic – At Your Own Pace

€50.00

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.

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