In a nutshell: Arabic vowels shape pronunciation and meaning, with short vowels (Fathah, Kasrah, Dammah) marked above or below letters and long vowels (Alif, Waw, Yaa) extending sounds. Mastering these vowels is key to accurate reading, clear speech, and grasping grammatical nuances in Arabic.

Arabic is a language that uses a unique system of vowels, known as diacritical marks (also known as tashkeel or harakat). These marks are used to indicate the pronunciation of words and to distinguish between words that are spelled the same but have different meanings.

In this article, you will learn everything about vowels in Arabic including their definition, examples and the difference between short and long Arabic vowels.

Does Arabic have vowels? How many vowels are there in Arabic?

Yes, Arabic has vowels, though they work differently from English. Arabic vowels are divided into two types: short and long. There are three short vowels—Fathah (ـَ), Kasrah (ـِ), and Dammah (ـُ)—which are written as diacritical marks above or below the letters. These marks help shape the pronunciation and meaning of words. In addition, Arabic has three long vowels: Alif (ا), Waw (و), and Yaa (ي), which elongate the vowel sounds. So in total, there are six vowels in Arabic, essential for reading, speaking, and understanding grammar.

What are Vowels in Arabic?

In the Arabic language vowels are known as Harakat (حَرَكَات), they are signs that determine how to pronounce the Arabic letters. In addition to that, they indicate the case of Arabic nouns and adjectives based on their position in the sentence.

The Arabic language has three main short vowels, which are called Fathah- فَتْحَة, Kasrah- كَسْرَة, and Dammah- ضَمَّة. These vowels are represented by signs placed above or below a letter. 

Additionally, there are three long vowels in the Arabic language which are the Alif (ا), Waw (و) and Yaa (ي).

Which makes the overall number of Arabic vowels six vowels.

What are short vowels in Arabic? 

Learning the three short Arabic vowels is crucial, especially for beginners; the reason for that is their impact on the meaning of Arabic words. 

It is worth mentioning that the omission or substitution of a single harakah can change or even totally reverse the meaning.

1. Fathah 

Fathah is represented by -َ  and is pronounced as ‘a’ in the English word “above”.

2. Dammah

Dammah is represented by ـُ and is pronounced as ‘u’ in the English word “put”. 

3. Kasrah

Kasrah is represented by ـِ and it is pronounced as ‘i’ in the word “if”.

4. Non-voweled Arabic letters (Saakin letters)

In addition to these three vowels, there is also a sign called Sukun, which is represented by ـْ and indicates that the consonant letter is vowelless. Examples of words with Sukun is the letter “Noon” in kun- كُنْ. 

*  Taken from Kalimah’s online Arabic course

And here’s a song you can listen to and practice all the letters with the three vowel marks: Fatha, Kasra, and Damma.

How many short vowels in Arabic?

Arabic has three short vowels: Fathah (ـَ), Kasrah (ـِ), and Dammah (ـُ). These vowels are represented as small diacritical marks above or below letters and play a crucial role in shaping pronunciation and meaning. Fathah sounds like “a” in “cat,” Kasrah like “i” in “sit,” and Dammah like “u” in “put.” Though short, these vowels are essential for accurate reading and distinguishing between words in Arabic.

Arabic Alphabet Vowels

And here is a chart showing the Arabic vowels Fatha, Kasra, and Damma with all the Arabic letters. This chart is from Kalimah’s online Arabic course, which focuses on Arabic vowels as a key part of its curriculum.

Examples of short Arabic vowels

The table below shows some examples of the short Arabic vowels:

Short Vowelالْحَرَكَات القَصِيرَة	Voweled letterالحَرْف المُتَحَرِّك	Examplesأمْثِلَة	Translationالتَّرْجَمَة
Fathahفتحة	فَكَ	Fa’ala فَعَلَ Kataba كَتَبَ	DidWrote
Kasrahكَسْرَة	مِكِ	Mitra Qah  مِطْرَقَة Rakiba   رَكِبَ	HammerRode
Dammahضَمَّة	جُرُ	Jondii  جُنْدِيّ Rohamaa  رُحَمَاء	SoldierMerciful

Additional Examples of Short Arabic Vowels

• Fathah:
  • دَرَسَ (Darasa) – He studied
  • قَلَم (Qalam) – Pen
• Kasrah:
  • عِلْم (Ilm) – Knowledge
  • بِئْر (Bi’r) – Well
• Dammah:
  • شُكْر (Shukr) – Thanks
  • مُدُن (Mudun) – Cities

Read more: What is Tanween in arabic 

What are long vowels in Arabic?

In the Arabic language, there are three letters, namely Aleph, Waw, and Yaa, that function as long vowels. 

1. Alif (ا)

The Aleph elongates the Fat-ha vowel to produce a long AA sound. 

2. Waw (و)

On the other hand, the Waw extends the Damma vowel to form a long OO sound, 

3. Yaa (ي)

While the Yaa prolongs the Kasra vowel to produce a long EE sound.

And to help visualize this, here’s a chart of the ‘al-mudud’ (long vowels) alongside all the Arabic letters. This chart also is taken directly from the Kalimah’s online Arabic course, which focuses heavily on mastering Arabic vowels.

Note that!

It is essential to note that Alif must always have a Fathah before it. Similarly, if Waw is acting as a long vowel, it should be without a harakah on it and a Dammah on the letter before it. Likewise, when Yaa functions as a long vowel, it will have a Sukoon on it and a Kasrah before it. 

Examples of long Arabic vowels

Now that you have learned all about the long Arabic vowels, it is time for some practical examples.

Arabic long vowel الحَركات الطَوِيلة	Example مِثَال	Translation التَّرجَمَة
Alif (ا)	النَّهَار- Anahaar	The morning
Waw (و)	صُنْدُوق- Sondooq	Box
Yaa (ي)	قَرِيب- Qareeb	Near

Additional Examples of  Long Arabic Vowels

1. Alif (ا)

• كِتَاب (Kitaab) – Book
• بَاب (Baab) – Door
• سَمَاء (Samaa’) – Sky

2. Waw (و)

• دُرُوس (Duruus) – Lessons
• نُور (Noor) – Light
• ضوء (Daw’) – Light

3. Yaa (ي)

• كبير (Kabīr) – Big
• بعيد (Ba’eed) – Far
• طبيب (Tabeeb) – Doctor

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What are Arabic semivowels?

Waw and Yaa are two letters in the Arabic language that serve a dual purpose, including the following:

• They can be used as consonants, representing the sounds /w/ and /y/ respectively.

In this case, they are referred to as Hurouf Al Leen- حُرُوف اللِّين, with Waw forming the semi-vowel AW / OW, as in “Howl- حَوْلَ”, and Yaa forming the semi-vowel EI, as in “Hussein -حُسَيْن”. This occurs when they have a Sukoon above them and a Fathah above the letter preceding them.

• They may also be used as long vowels, representing the sounds /uu/ and /ii/. 

In this case, the pronunciation of the Arabic /ii/ sound represented by yaa is similar to the sound of the letter “i” in the English word “machine.” Whereas, the Arabic /uu/ sound represented by waaw is similar to the sound of the letter “u” in the English word “rule.”

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Double functionality of Arabic vowels 

One of the interesting features of Arabic vowels is their double functionality. Not only do they represent distinct sounds, but they also serve a grammatical function in indicating the case and gender of nouns and adjectives.

This double functionality of Arabic vowels makes the language more complex and challenging, but also more precise and clear in communication. Additionally, it highlights the importance of paying attention to the details of Arabic grammar in mastering the language.

Long vowels Vs short vowels

The Modern Standard Arabic sound system consists of six vowel phonemes, with three being “long” and three being “short”. The difference between the two is not in their quality but in the length of time that they are held.

This distinction is similar to the difference in length between quarter, half, and whole musical notes. Long vowels are represented in the Arabic alphabet by the letters Alif, waaw, and yaa, and are written into words as part of their spelling. 

Short vowels, however, are not independent letters and are written only as diacritical marks above and below the letters.

Note the difference between short and long Arabic vowels in the comparison table below:

Short and long Arabic vowels -الحركات القصيرة والطويلة
Fathahالفتحة	Alifالألِف	Kasrahالكَسرَة	Yaaالْيَاء	Dammahالضَّمَّة	Wawالْوَاو
جَلَسَHe sat(Jalasa)	جَالَسَHe sat with(Jaalasa)	سَمِعHe heard(Sami’a)	سَمِيعThe All Hearing (Allah)(Samee’)	فُلJasmine(Ful)	فُولBeans(fuul)

Take a look at this chart! It provides a visual breakdown of the Arabic long vowels (al-mudud), contrasted with the short vowels (fatha, kasra, and damma), for every Arabic letter. This helpful chart is taken from the Kalimah’s online Arabic course, which places a strong emphasis on mastering Arabic vowels.

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Those Vowels Still Feel Like a Mystery? 

Don’t worry, Our online Arabic course takes you beyond just the alphabet. We dive deep into those vowels, so you can:

• Read Arabic like a native, not just guessing at the sounds.
• Understand what you’re hearing, even in everyday conversations.
• Speak with confidence, knowing you’re pronouncing words correctly.

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This is the next step in your Arabic journey. Building on the ‘Iqraa‘ method, we make vowels simple and fun. Get Your FREE Trial Class!

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In Conclusion 

Arabic vowels, known as Harakat, are essential for pronunciation and meaning. They include three short vowels—Fathah (ـَ), Kasrah (ـِ), and Dammah (ـُ)—which are crucial for differentiating words. Additionally, there are three long vowels represented by the letters Alif (ا), Waw (و), and Yaa (ي). Short vowels are diacritical marks, while long vowels are actual letters that extend the vowel sounds.

Understanding these vowels is vital for correct pronunciation and comprehension in Arabic. Short vowels affect word meaning and grammatical cases, while long vowels lengthen sounds and influence word formation. Mastery of both types is crucial for fluency and clear communication in Arabic.

Modern Standard Arabic uses a sound system with six vowel phonemes, Long vowels are represented by the letters Alif, waw, and yaa, while short vowels are written as diacritical marks above and below the body of the word, rather than being independent letters.

Learning Arabic vowels is indispensable for proper pronunciation and comprehension of Arabic texts. Hence as a beginner, you are advised to seek the assistance of an expert Arabic teacher to learn the correct pronunciation of the vowels and improve your understanding of the Arabic language.

FAQs about Arabic Long And Short Vowels