Lesson 4
Short Vowels Fatḥah, Kasrah, Ḍammah
الحركات القصيرة
Every Arabic letter carries one of three short vowels or none. These tiny marks above and below letters produce the "a", "i", and "u" sounds that give words their shape.
The Three Short Vowels (الحركات)
In the Qurʾān and in learning texts, short vowels are written as small marks on letters. They are not written in everyday Arabic but are essential for correct recitation.
MarkNameSoundExample
َ
Fatḥah
Short "a" like the a in cat
بَ
ِ
Kasrah
Short "i" like the i in bit
بِ
ُ
Ḍammah
Short "u" like the u in put
بُ
Every Letter × Three Vowels
Practice reading each consonant with each vowel. Work through the full alphabet with each vowel before moving on:
Letter+ Fatḥah+ Kasrah+ Ḍammah
ببَبِبُ
تتَتِتُ
ثثَثِثُ
ججَجِجُ
ححَحِحُ
خخَخِخُ
ددَدِدُ
… continue through all 28 letters …
ممَمِمُ
ننَنِنُ
ههَهِهُ
ييَيِيُ
Real Words to Practise
كَتَبَkataba "he wrote"
ذَهَبَdhahaba "he went"
رَحِمَraḥima "he had mercy"
كُتُبkutub "books"
سَمِعَsamiʿa "he heard"
فَتَحَfataḥa "he opened"
Key Points
- Fatḥah sits above the letter. Kasrah sits below. Ḍammah sits above (looks like a small wāw).
- The vowel is short one count only. Do not hold it.
- Heavy letters (ص ض ط ظ) produce a deeper version of each vowel the vowel sound is the same but the mouth position is different.