Where the same consonant occurs twice in a word, with no vowel between, instead of using consonant + sukūn + consonant, the consonant is written only once, and shadda is written above it. Shadda represents doubling (or gemination) of a consonant. It sits above the letter which is not followed by a vowel.

Whenever a consonant does not have a vowel, it receives a mark called a sukūn, a small circle which represents the end of a closed syllable (CvC or CvvC). When Ya' is used to represent the long vowel, kasra appears above the preceding consonant. Ya' is the long vowel ī (like the 'ee' in English 'sheep'). It represents a short vowel i (like the 'i' in English 'pit'). Kasra is a diagonal stroke written below the consonant which precedes it in pronunciation. It represents a short vowel a (a little like the 'u' in 'but' a short 'ah' sound).Īlif is the long vowel ā (a long 'ahh' sound as in English 'father'). When Waw is used to represent the long vowel, damma appears above the preceding consonant.įatha is a diagonal stroke written above the consonant which precedes it in pronunciation. Wāw is the long vowel ū (like the 'oo' in 'moon'). The first consonant is voiceless and the last one is voiced.

It represents a short vowel u (like the 'u' in 'but'). The three segments of spectrograms reflect three different sounds, the first one is consonant, the second is a vowel, and the last one is consonant as well. Index => The Arabic Alphabet: Vowels Nameĭamma is an apostrophe-like shape written above the consonant which precedes it in pronunciation.

What are vowels and consonants