Start Here: How This Course Works
Lesson Content
How every lesson works
Arabic is written and read from right to left. In the exercises you put the words in order starting on the right.
The vowel marks (ḥarakāt)
Arabic letters are consonants. Short vowels are small marks above or below the letter. All Arabic in this course is written with them, so you can read every word.
Try it
Pick a vowel mark, then tap letters to see how they combine. The letters that have no English equivalent come with a short description.
Reading the transliteration
Next to every Arabic word you find it in Latin letters. Most letters read as in English. These need attention:
- ā, ī, ū: long vowels, hold them twice as long
- ʿ: the letter ʿayn (ع), a squeeze in the throat
- ʾ: a short stop (hamzah ء), as between "uh-oh"
- A hyphen joins الْ: al-kitābu
- ḥ (ح) strong h · kh (خ) as in "loch"
- ṣ ḍ ṭ ẓ: heavy s, d, t, dh
- th (ث) as in "think" · dh (ذ) as in "this"
- gh (غ) like a French r · q (ق) a deep k
Listening
If your phone or computer has an Arabic voice, a speaker button appears next to the Arabic. Most phones have one. On Windows, add it under Settings → Time & language → Speech (add the Arabic voice), then reload the page.
Tips for learning well
Key points
- Arabic reads from right to left.
- Short vowels are marks: fatḥah a, kasrah i, ḍammah u; sukūn none; shaddah doubles; tanwīn -un.
- ā ī ū are long; ʿ is ʿayn; ḥ ṣ ḍ ṭ ẓ are the deep or heavy letters.
- Each lesson: words, rule, dialogue, practice (5 correct answers), quiz.
Discussion
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