Learn the Arabic vowel marks that tell you how to pronounce each letter. Mastering harakat is essential for correct Quranic recitation.
A small diagonal stroke above the letter (◌َ). Pronounced like a short 'a' as in 'cat' — the most common Arabic vowel.
A small stroke below the letter (◌ِ). Pronounced like a short 'i' as in 'bit'. It 'breaks' the letter downward.
A small hook above the letter (◌ُ), shaped like a miniature wāw. Pronounced like a short 'u' as in 'put'.
A small circle above the letter (◌ْ) indicating no vowel follows — the letter is 'silent' or stops abruptly. It creates closed syllables.
Double harakat at the end of a word, adding an 'n' sound. It marks indefinite nouns — like 'a' in English (a book, a house).
| Type | Symbol | Example | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tanween Fath | ◌ً | كِتَابًا | kitāban | a book (obj.) |
| Tanween Kasr | ◌ٍ | كِتَابٍ | kitābin | of a book |
| Tanween Damm | ◌ٌ | كِتَابٌ | kitābun | a book (subj.) |