حروف العلة
The English phrase 'vowels' is حروف العلة in Arabic.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'letters of the ailment' or 'letters of the defect'.
Did you know?
- While حروف العلة refers to the 'weak' letters, the marks used for short vowels are called حركات, which translates to 'movements'.
- While English speakers use 'vowels' to describe sounds, the Arabic term حروف العلة describes the letters themselves as 'diseased' because they are unstable and change according to the grammatical context.
- Because Arabic is an abjad, the 'vowels' are often not written as actual letters, but as small diacritical marks called حركات placed above or below consonants.
Examples in context
- كَتَابbook
- دِينreligion
- تُوتberry
- أحتاج إلى تعلم حروف العلة أولاً.aḥtāju ilá taʿallum ḥurūf al-ʿillah awwalan.I need to learn the vowels first.
Example conversation
Ahmed and Nour are studying Arabic grammar together.
- أحمد Ahmedيا نور، هل تعرفين حروف العلة؟yā Nūr, hal taʿrifīna ḥurūf al-ʿillah?Nour, do you know the vowels?
- نور Nourنعم، أنا أعرفها جيداً.naʿam, ana aʿrifuhā jayyidan.Yes, I know them well.
- أحمد Ahmedهل يمكنكِ شرحها لي؟hal yumkinuki sharḥuhā lī?Can you explain them to me?
- نور Nourبالطبع، سأساعدك يا أحمد.bi-ṭabʿ, sa-usaʿiduka yā Aḥmad.Of course, I will help you, Ahmed.
