Introduction to Arabic and Alphabet

2. In this introduction, you will learn the following:
 Learn the difference between the standard Arabic and dialects
(colloquial)
 Recognize the Arabic alphabet sounds and writing system
 Learn general rules for the Arabic writing system
ْ‫ال‬ْ‫ف‬َ‫د‬َ‫ه‬ْ‫ن‬ِ‫م‬ْ‫ر‬َّ‫د‬‫اْال‬َ‫ذ‬َ‫ه‬ْ ِ‫س‬ْ‫ه‬َْ‫و‬ْ‫ال‬ِْ‫ت‬‫ي‬:Objectives
Introduction to Arabic and Alphabet

3. The formal Arabic language is called Modern
Standard Arabic (MSA). MSA is the official
language of the Arab world used in
textbooks, newspapers, news, and formal
situations. However, it is rare to hear MSA on
the Arab street as Arabic speaking countries
have varied Arabic dialects that differ from
one place to another.
Introduction to Arabic

4. • Egyptian
• Levantine (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan)
• Arabian Peninsula (e.g., Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Emirates, and Qatar)
• Iraqi
• North African: Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya
The Arabic dialects may be grouped as follows:

5. The Arabic Words are written from right to left. Arabic is written cursively,
with the letters connecting to one another. Most of the letters within an Arabic
word have to be joined together. The Arabic alphabet contains 28 letters,
shown below:
‫خ‬ ‫ح‬ ‫ج‬ ‫ث‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ب‬ ‫ا‬
‫ص‬ ‫ش‬ ‫س‬ ‫ز‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ذ‬ ‫د‬
‫ق‬ ‫ف‬ ‫غ‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ظ‬ ‫ط‬ ‫ض‬
‫ي‬ ‫و‬ ‫هـ‬ ‫ن‬ ‫م‬ ‫ل‬ ‫ك‬
Arabic Alphabet

6. Listen to the Cool Egyptian Song  “Arabic Alphabet”

7. Most of the letters within an Arabic word have to be joined together. However,
there are six letters that are exceptions to this rule and can't be connected to
any letter that comes after them. These letters are:
‫ز‬ ‫ر‬ ‫و‬ ‫ا‬ ‫ذ‬ ‫د‬
Unconnected Letters

8.  All Arabic letters have an initial, a medial, and a final form.
 Arabic letters have different forms, depending on their position within the
word (initial, medial, final, or a stand alone position).
General Rules for the Arabic Letters

9. Final Medial Initial Letter Name
Unconnected Connected
‫ا‬ ‫ـا‬ ‫ـا‬ ‫أ‬ alif
‫ب‬ ‫ـب‬ ‫ـبـ‬ ‫بـ‬ baa
‫ت‬ ‫ـت‬ ‫ـتـ‬ ‫تـ‬ taa
‫ث‬ ‫ـث‬ ‫ـثـ‬ ‫ث‬‫ـ‬ thaa
‫ج‬ ‫ـج‬ ‫ـجـ‬ ‫ج‬‫ـ‬ Jiim
‫ح‬ ‫ـح‬ ‫ـحـ‬ ‫ح‬‫ـ‬ haa
‫خ‬ ‫ـخ‬ ‫ـخـ‬ ‫خ‬‫ـ‬ khaa
Look at the table below to see the printed forms of the letters while you’re listening to them.

10. Final Medial Initial Letter Name
Unconnected Connected
‫د‬ ‫ـد‬ ‫ـد‬ ‫د‬ daal
‫ذ‬ ‫ـذ‬ ‫ـذ‬ ‫ذ‬ thaal
‫ر‬ ‫ـر‬ ‫ـر‬ ‫ر‬ raa
‫ز‬ ‫ـز‬ ‫ـز‬ ‫ز‬ zeen
‫س‬ ‫ـس‬ ‫ـسـ‬ ‫سـ‬ siin
‫ش‬ ‫ـش‬ ‫ـشـ‬ ‫شـ‬ shiin
‫ص‬ ‫ـص‬ ‫ـصـ‬ ‫صـ‬ saad
‫ض‬ ‫ـض‬ ‫ـضـ‬ ‫ضـ‬ daad
‫ط‬ ‫ـط‬ ‫ـطـ‬ ‫طـ‬ taa
‫ظ‬ ‫ـظ‬ ‫ـظـ‬ ‫ظـ‬ thaa
Look at the table below to see the printed forms of the letters while you’re listening to them.

11. Final Medial Initial Letter Name
Unconnected Connected
‫ع‬ ‫ـع‬ ‫ـعـ‬ ‫عـ‬ ain
‫غ‬ ‫ـغ‬ ‫ـغـ‬ ‫غـ‬ ghiin
‫ف‬ ‫ـف‬ ‫ـفـ‬ ‫فـ‬ faa
‫ق‬ ‫ـق‬ ‫ـقـ‬ ‫قـ‬ qaaf
‫ك‬ ‫ـك‬ ‫ـكـ‬ ‫كـ‬ kaaf
‫ل‬ ‫ـل‬ ‫ـلـ‬ ‫لـ‬ laam
‫م‬ ‫ـم‬ ‫ـمـ‬ ‫مـ‬ miim
‫ن‬ ‫ـن‬ ‫ـنـ‬ ‫نـ‬ nuun
‫ه‬ ‫ـه‬ ‫ـهـ‬ ‫هــ‬ haa
‫و‬ ‫ـو‬ ‫ـو‬ ‫و‬ waaw
‫ي‬ ‫ـي‬ ‫ـيـ‬ ‫يـ‬ yaa
Look at the table below to see the printed forms of the letters while you’re listening to them.