Short Vowels, A

Movements in Arabic: Short Vowels, Anti-vowels and Signs

Vowels in Arabic look like dashes and symbols above or below the Arabic Letters to pronounce Arabic correctly; however, later when one is used to the Language such vowels, surprisingly enough, are not used that much; yet it is helpful for elementary/ intermediate to avoid any confusions in Correct Arabic Pronunciation. For example, consider the verb /shariba/ شرب (To Drink) in Arabic is same as /shrb/ but we have added those unique signs (vowels) to our Reader/ Learner for simplification - a bridge that leads to correct pronunciation. However, note that vowels are not written in normal Arabic writing; they are written sometimes in Arabic Poetry; however, usually in the Holy Quran for correct pronunciation of the Holy Book.
Our reader/ learner must know that such specific combinations of Arabic Letters and vowels results in completely different sounds. Further, the presence of any of those signs on the Arabic letter gives such word different grammatical functions.

Consider the following Chart to fully grasp the Arabic Signs of Movement /̛āl-harakāt/ الحَرَكَات for simplification:

A- Short Vowels

Short Vowel Sign	ُُُُُ	َ	ِ
Short Vowel Arabic Name Transliterated	/ḍam-ma/	/fatha/	/kasra/
Short Vowel Arabic Name	ضَمة	فَتحة	كَسرة
Short Vowel Sign English Equivalent (Vowel Transliteration)	/u/	/a/	/i/
Usage	Regularity /̛ār-rafع/ الرَفع	Openness /̛ān-nasb/ النَصب	Reduction /̛āk-kasr/ الكَسر
Description	- A little lopped symbol like a small wāw always placed over the Arabic Letter. - Any word in Arabic in isolation shall end in the /u/ vowel as this ending is the regular one. - Used to indicate regularity when placed over the last letter of a word.	- A short diagonal strike over the Arabic Letter. - It is an open vowel that is used in the situation of openness when placed over the last letter of a word.	- A short diagonal strike under the Arabic Letter. - It is a closed vowel that is similar to the reduction of lips witnessed in other foreign Languages. - Used in the situation of reduction when placed over the last letter of a word.
Bilingual Pronunciation Example	Consider for example if we put a /ḍam-ma/ over the letter dāl دُ it will be pronounced /du/.	Consider for example if we put a /fatha / over the letter dāl دَ it will be pronounced /da/.	Consider for example if we put a /kasra/ over the letter dāl دِ it will be pronounced /di/.

NB: When a short vowel is added over or below an Arabic Letter, this Letter shall be called a Moving Letter /harf mutaharik/ حَرف مُتَحَرِك: Arabic Letter + Short Vowel (over or under it) = Movement /haraka/

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