The standalone form
مA small rounded head, no dotsMeet the letter
Meem مِيم
Meem has a small rounded head and no dots. It joins on both sides. Close both lips for its m sound; the sound also resonates through the nose.
In the Arabic word مَوْز (“banana”), the first letter is meem. Notice the rounded head of meem.
One letter. Four shapes.
The standalone form is above. Read the three connected forms from right to left.
Beginning
Joins to the leftMeem joins to waaw on its left. Waaw then breaks the join before zaay.
Middle
Joins on both sidesMeem joins to qaaf on the right and raa on the left.
End
Joins to the rightMeem joins to laam on its right at the end of qalam.
The name stays meem in every shape. A connected form does not add a new sound. Gold highlights this letter in each example.
1Three short vowelsA little mark changes the sound.
The letter’s name is meem. Follow the Arabic tiles from right to left.
2Stretch the vowelMeem with alif, yaa and waaw.
Keep the same consonant and stretch the vowel. These are sound practice units.
3Meem without a vowelSukūn · no following vowel.
The circle above مْ means there is no vowel on this consonant. Here is a complete noun, read when stopping.
Listen to the whole word.
Finish with m and no following vowel. Close both lips and allow the sound to resonate through the nose.
4Two letters, one written shapeShaddah · three vowel sounds.
A shaddah joins two of the same consonant. The first has sukūn; the second has the vowel. Read each Arabic sequence from right to left.
Fatḥah · a
Kasrah · i
Ḍammah · u
5One word, three tanwīn endingsSee the ending in a real word.
Compare three full endings on the same noun. The doubled vowel mark adds an n sound when the ending is pronounced in full.
Where next?
Follow your curiosity.
When you feel ready
Choose your next adventure.
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