Learn basic Arabic Vowels & Letters of Fatha
بَ
Arabic Vowels
Understanding Harakat & Fatha (َ)
Lesson Overview
The Arabic alphabet contains 29 letters, and most of them are consonants. Unlike English, Arabic vowels are not separate letters. Instead, they appear as small symbols placed above or below the letters.
The Arabic alphabet contains 29 letters, and most of them are consonants. Unlike English, Arabic vowels are not separate letters. Instead, they appear as small symbols placed above or below the letters.
Arabic Letters & Vowels
Arabic vowels are called Harakat. They are small marks that tell us how to pronounce each letter. For example:
بَ = ب + َ
The letter ب has a Fatha vowel above it, creating the sound "ba".
Important Rule
Consonant + Vowel = Sound
When a vowel is placed above or below a letter, the vowel sound comes after that consonant.
Example:
ب + َ = بَ
The letter comes first, then the vowel sound.
When a vowel is placed above or below a letter, the vowel sound comes after that consonant.
Example:
ب + َ = بَ
The letter comes first, then the vowel sound.
The Three Arabic Vowels
Arabic has only three short vowels. In this lesson, we will learn the first one: Fatha.
َ
Fatha
The first Arabic vowel
Placed above a letter
Creates a short "a" sound
Understanding Fatha (َ)
The first vowel in Arabic is called Fatha. It is written as a small diagonal mark above the letter.
| Symbol | Name | Position | Sound |
|---|---|---|---|
| َ | Fatha | Above the letter | Short "A" sound |
Remember
Fatha is always placed above the letter.
Example:
Fatha is always placed above the letter.
Example:
بَ تَ ثَ
The vowel comes after the consonant sound.
Reading With Fatha
When Fatha is added to different letters, the pronunciation changes slightly.
| Letter | With Fatha | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| ب | بَ | Ba |
| ت | تَ | Ta |
| ث | ثَ | Tha |
Short Vowel & Long Vowel
Arabic has three short vowels and three matching long vowels. A long vowel stretches the sound of a short vowel.
| Short Vowel | Long Vowel | How It Changes |
|---|---|---|
|
َ
Fatha |
ا
Aleph |
Short A → Long AA |
Aleph Connection
Aleph (ا) does not create a new sound by itself. Instead, it stretches the Fatha sound and makes it longer.
Example:
Long sound: Baa
Aleph (ا) does not create a new sound by itself. Instead, it stretches the Fatha sound and makes it longer.
Example:
بَ → بَا
Short sound:
Ba
Long sound: Baa
Examples With Fatha
| Arabic | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| بَثَ | Batha | Spread / Broadcast |
| تَبَ | Taba | Repented |
| ثَبَتَ | Thabata | Became Firm |
| ثَابَتَ | Thaabata | Example Word |
Practice Time
Practice Reading Fatha
✔ Add the Fatha sound after each letter:
✔ Remember:
بَ → Ba
تَ → Ta
ثَ → Tha
✔ Practice changing short sounds into long sounds:
بَ → بَا
✔ Add the Fatha sound after each letter:
بَ تَ ثَ
✔ Remember:
بَ → Ba
تَ → Ta
ثَ → Tha
✔ Practice changing short sounds into long sounds:
بَ → بَا
Lesson Summary
What You Learned
✅ Arabic vowels are small symbols called Harakat.
✅ Fatha (َ) is the first short vowel and is placed above letters.
✅ The vowel comes after the consonant sound.
✅ Aleph (ا) stretches Fatha and creates the long AA sound.
✅ Arabic has three short vowels and three matching long vowels.
✅ Arabic vowels are small symbols called Harakat.
✅ Fatha (َ) is the first short vowel and is placed above letters.
✅ The vowel comes after the consonant sound.
✅ Aleph (ا) stretches Fatha and creates the long AA sound.
✅ Arabic has three short vowels and three matching long vowels.