How do you read Arabic vowel marks (harakat)?
The marks at a glance
| Mark | Name | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| بَ | Fatha | short a | بَ = ba |
| بِ | Kasra | short i | بِ = bi |
| بُ | Damma | short u | بُ = bu |
| بْ | Sukun | no vowel | بْ = b |
| بّ | Shadda | letter doubled | بّ = bb |
| بً بٍ بٌ | Tanween | -an / -in / -un | كِتَابٌ = ki-taa-bun |
Long vowels
A long vowel is a short vowel followed by its matching letter:
- fatha + alif → aa: بَا = baa
- kasra + ya → ee: بِي = bee
- damma + waw → uu: بُو = buu
- fatha + ya or waw with sukun makes a diphthong: بَيْت = bayt (house), يَوْم = yawm (day).
Reading a whole word
Read each consonant with the mark on it, and close the syllable on a sukun: أُنْظُرْ is un-zur (look!), مَدْرَسَة is mad-ra-sa (school).
When you stop on the last word, its final short vowel or tanween is not said: الْهِنْدِ (al-hin-di) becomes al-hind; كِتَابٌ becomes ki-taab.
Why are vowel marks often missing?
Fluent readers know the words, so newspapers, signs and books for adults usually leave the marks out. Children's books, the Qur'an and learning materials keep them. When you type a word into Letterstroke, include the marks for an exact reading.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between fatha and kasra?
Both are short diagonal strokes. Fatha sits above the letter and says 'a'; kasra sits below it and says 'i'.
What does a small circle on a letter mean?
That is sukun: the letter has no vowel, so the sound stops and closes the syllable.
What does shadda do?
It doubles the consonant: مُحَمَّد is read mu-ham-mad, with the m said twice.
What is tanween?
A doubled vowel mark at the end of a word that adds an 'n' sound: -an, -in or -un.