The standalone form
صA broad loop, no dotMeet the letter
Ṣaad صَاد
Ṣaad has a broad enclosed shape and no dot. It joins on both sides. Its emphatic ṣ sound is fuller than the clear s of seen.
In the Arabic word صَابُون (“soap”), the first letter is ṣaad. Notice the broad shape without a dot.
One letter. Four shapes.
The standalone form is above. Read the three connected forms from right to left.
Beginning
Joins to the leftṢaad joins to alif on its left.
Middle
Joins on both sidesṢaad joins to ʿayn on the right and yaa on the left.
End
Joins to the rightṢaad joins to yaa on its right at the end of qamīṣ.
The name stays ṣaad 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 ṣaad. Follow the Arabic tiles from right to left.
2Stretch the vowelṢaad with alif, yaa and waaw.
Keep the same consonant and stretch the vowel. These are sound practice units.
3Ṣaad without a vowelSukūn · no following vowel.
The circle above صْ means there is no vowel on this consonant. Here is a complete noun, read when stopping.
Listen to the whole word.
Finish with ṣ and no added vowel. Keep the emphatic sound distinct from seen.
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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