Arabic A1, Unit 6: Long vowels and diphthongs

Long vowels and diphthongs

Arabic A1 · Unit 6

GoalRead the long vowels ā, ī, ū and the glides aw and ay.

New words

دَار (dār) · homeجَمَل (jamal) · camelجَمِيل (jamīl) · beautifulكُوب (kūb) · cupيَوْم (yawm) · dayلَوْن (lawn) · colourعَيْن (ʿayn) · eye

Explanation

A long vowel is a short vowel plus a helper letter: fatha + ا gives ā, kasra + ي gives ī and damma + و gives ū. The helper letter carries no vowel mark of its own. A long vowel lasts about twice as long as a short one, and length can change the word: جَمَل (jamal) is a camel and جَمِيل (jamīl) means beautiful. Two vowel glides are called diphthongs. Fatha + و with a sukun gives aw, like “ow” in “now”: يَوْم is yawm. Fatha + ي with a sukun gives ay, like “eye”: عَيْن is ʿayn.

Written	Sound	Example
fatha + ا	ā	دَار
kasra + ي	ī	جَمِيل
damma + و	ū	كُوب
fatha + وْ	aw	يَوْم
fatha + يْ	ay	عَيْن

Worked examples

Short and long vowels. Press each pair and hold the long one about twice as long.

Length changes the word: a camel and beautiful.

Read the glides aw and ay in three words and press Listen: day, colour, eye.

Class activity

Clap the length. Say the words of this lesson and clap once for each short vowel and twice for each long vowel. Then say جَمَل and جَمِيل one after the other and stretch the ī. Write six words from the lesson and circle the long vowels in one colour and the glides aw and ay in another.

Practice

Press Listen. Is the vowel in the middle of the word long or short?

Which letter, with which short vowel before it, gives ū?

Read aloud: لَوْن. Which glide do you hear, aw or ay?

The picture shows a camel. Which word is it: جَمَل or جَمِيل?

Read aloud and say what it means: عَيْن.

The last letters and reading signs

Long vowels and diphthongs