Lesson 4: Short Vowels (Harakat)

  • Arabic uses diacritical marks called Harakat to represent short vowel sounds:

    • Fatha (بَ)short "a" sound, placed above the letter /ba/

    • Kasra (بِ)short "i" sound, placed below the letter /bi/

    • Damma (بُ)short "u" sound, placed above the letter /boo/

    These marks are essential for proper pronunciation but are often omitted in everyday writing.

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

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

بِنت

How would you write "nabaat" which means "plant" in Arabic?

نَبات

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.