Vowel Elision — Standard Arabic Grammar

When Arabic words connect in speech, certain vowels are skipped to keep the flow smooth. Listen to the difference:

⁧اَلْكِتَابُ جَدِيدٌ.⁩
al-kitābu jadīdun.al-kitābu d͟jadīdun.ʾal-kitābu ǧadiydun.al-kitabu jadydun.
The book is new.
⁧هَذَا الْكِتَابُ جَدِيدٌ.⁩
hādhā-l-kitābu jadīdun.hādhā-l-kitābu d͟jadīdun.hādhā-l-kitābu ǧadiydun.hadha-l-kitabu jadydun.
This book is new.

In the first sentence, (al-al-ʾal-al-) starts the phrase, so the a is pronounced. In the second, another word comes before it, so the a is dropped: hādhā-l-kitābu. The written (alifalifʾalifalif) stays on the page but is silent. This connecting vowel is called (hamzat al-waṣlhamzat al-waṣlhamzat ʾal-waṣlhamzat al-waṣl).

With Prefixes and Prepositions

This happens most often when small words come before (al-al-ʾal-al-). The a drops and the prefix connects directly to the l:

⁧أَنَا وَالْمُدَرِّسُ.⁩
anā wa-l-mudarrisu.anā wa-l-mudarrisu.ʾanā wa-l-mudarrisu.ana wa-l-mudarisu.
I and the teacher.
⁧أَكْتُبُ بِالْقَلَمِ.⁩
aktubu bi-l-qalami.aktubu bi-l-qalami.ʾaktubu bi-l-qalami.aktubu bi-l-qalami.
I write with the pen.
⁧هُوَ فِي الْمَكْتَبِ.⁩
huwa fi-l-maktabi.
He is in the office.

The same principle applies to other words that begin with a connecting vowel:

⁧مَا اسْمُكَ؟⁩
ma-smuka?
What is your name?

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Standard Arabic course

13 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 2. A few of them, with the words “Vowel Elision” is about in bold:

هذه صديقتي آنا, وهي طالبة.
hặḏịhị ṣạdīqạtⁱ ī ʼānnā, wạ hịyạ ṭālịbạẗụṇ.hād͟hihi ṣadīqatⁱ ī ʾānnā, wa hiya ṭālibatun.hāḏihi ṣadiyqatⁱ iy ˈānnā, wa hiya ṭālibaẗú.hḏh ṣdyqtⁱ y ʾana, w hy ṭalbẗ.
This is my friend, Anna. She is a student.
Lesson 2

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With Prefixes and Prepositions

Sentences from Lingora’s Standard Arabic course

More Standard Arabic grammar

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