Arabic Terminology Term Meaning

Arabic Terminology Term Meaning

al-Tarqiq - The Trilling/thin sound

al-Ghunnah - The Nasalization

al-Idghaam - The Assimilation of two letters

al-Ikhfa' - The hiding or concealment of the sound of a letter

al-Iqlaab - The Alteration of the letter

al-Madd - The Extension of the duration of syllables/stretch

al-Qari - The Reciter

al-Tafkhim - The Velarization/broad sound

al-th'haar - The Manifestation of the letters in pronunciation

al-Waqf - The Pause

Basmala - In the Name of Allah, Most Beneficent, Most Merciful'.

Dammah - A small apostrophe-like shape written above a letter. It represents a short vowel 'u' (like the 'u' sound in 'who' but only stretched for 1 count)

Definite Article - This is formed by adding the prefix "al" to the noun. "Al" is equal to "the" in English and it should be connected to the noun.

Fathah - Short vowel marked by a small line written above the leter.

Ghunnah - The sound that is produced from the nose and the tongue is not used. The duration of the ghunnah sound is for 2 counts.

Harakah - Short vowel (literally:movement)

Harakat - Short vowels

Harf - A letter

Huruf - Letters

Kasrah - A short diagonal stroke written below a letter. It represents a short vowel 'i'.

Lahn - The incorrect pronunciation of a letter.

Madd - The prolongation or stretch of the sound of a vowel.

Madmum - The letter having dammah

Maftuh - The letter having fathah

Makhraj - Place of origin/point of articulation of the letter sound

Maksur - The letter having Kasrah

Mushaddad - Doubled/hardened

Mutaharrik - Vocal/Vowelized. Letter that carries vowel.

Sdkin - Vowelless/Quiescent

Shaddah - A small sign written above a letter. This represents a letter that has been doubled, and therefore sounds stronger.

Sifa - The manner of articulation (the characteristics of the letters and recitation).

Sukun - Vowellessness of a consonant/quiescent consonant

Tafkheem - Also known as full mouth or thick letters. The elevation of the back of the tongue, resulting in a thick sound.

Tajweed - To improve, make better. The correct pronunciation during recitation.

Tanween - Vowels that produce a "nn" sound immediately after it.

Tanwin - Nunnation. Duplication of letter noon.

Tarqeeq - The opposite of 'tafkheem'. Also known as empty mouth or thin letters. The lowering of the back of the tongue, resulting in a flat sound.

Tarteel - The measured recitation of the Quran in rhythmic tones.

Ta'wawwuth - I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected shaitaan'

Waqf - To pause or to make a stop by breaking off the breath at the end of the word.

Wasl - The opposite of waqf. The joining of verses / sentences without stopping.