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.⁩
alkịtābụ jạdīdụṇ.alkitābu d͟jadīdun.ʾalkitābu ǧadiydú.alktab jdyd.
The book is new.
⁧هَذَا الْكِتَابُ جَدِيدٌ.⁩
hặḏā ᵃlkịtābụ jạdīdụṇ.hād͟hā ᵃlkitābu d͟jadīdun.hāḏā ᵃlkitābu ǧadiydú.hḏa ᵃlktab jdyd.
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 (ʼạlịfʾalifˈalifˈalf) stays on the page but is silent. This connecting vowel is called (hạmzạẗụ ᵃlwạṣlịhamzatu ᵃlwaṣlihamzaẗu ᵃlwaṣlihmzẗ ᵃlwṣl).

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.⁩
ʼạnā wạalmụdạrrịsụ.ʾanā waalmudarrisu.ˈanā waalmudarrisu.ˈana walmdrs.
I and the teacher.
⁧أَكْتُبُ بِالْقَلَمِ.⁩
ʼạktụbụ bịalqạlạmị.ʾaktubu bialqalami.ˈaktubu bialqalami.ˈaktb balqlm.
I write with the pen.
⁧هُوَ فِي الْمَكْتَبِ.⁩
hụwạ fī ᵃlmạktạbị.huwa fī ᵃlmaktabi.huwa fiy ᵃlmaktabi.hw fy ᵃlmktb.
He is in the office.

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

⁧مَا اسْمُكَ؟⁩
mā ismụkạ?mā ismuka?mā ismuka?ma ismk?
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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