MCQ Detailed View

The Arabic language has three main vowels, which are represented by diacritical marks rather than independent letters. These vowels are known as harakāt (short vowel signs):

• Fatḥah (ــَ) – produces the short vowel sound "a"


• Kasrah (ــِ) – produces the short vowel sound "i"


• Ḍammah (ــُ) – produces the short vowel sound "u"

In addition to these short vowels, Arabic also includes long vowels, which are written using specific letters:

• Alif (ا) – long "ā"


• Yāʼ (ي) – long "ī"


• Wāw (و) – long "ū"

Thus, the system is built around 3 core vowels, each of which can appear as a short or long sound. Unlike English and many other languages, Arabic does not have a large number of independent vowel letters. Instead, the short vowels are written as marks above or below consonants, while the long vowels are represented by full letters.

Key Facts about Arabic Vowels:

• Total Main Vowels: 3 (a, i, u)


• Short Vowels: Fatḥah, Kasrah, Ḍammah


• Long Vowels: Alif (ā), Yāʼ (ī), Wāw (ū)


• Writing System: Diacritical marks and letters


• Language Family: Semitic language with root-based system

This vowel structure is central to Arabic grammar, pronunciation, and meaning. A single change in a vowel can alter the entire meaning of a word, making vowels essential for proper understanding of the language.