The standalone form
وA small loop and descending tailMeet the letter
Waaw وَاو
Waaw has a small loop and a descending tail. It joins only to a letter on its right. Here we practise consonantal w; waaw can also carry the long ū vowel in other contexts.
In the Arabic word وَرْد (“rose”), the first letter is waaw. The waaw stands alone because it cannot join to the next letter on its left.
One letter. Two shapes.
The standalone form is above. Compare the joined form inside a word and at its end.
Inside a word
Joins from the right onlyWaaw joins to ṣaad on its right. It does not join to the raa on its left.
End of a word
Joins from the right onlyWaaw joins to laam on its right at the end of dalw.
The name stays waaw 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 waaw. Follow the Arabic tiles from right to left.
2Stretch the vowelWaaw with alif, yaa and waaw.
Keep the same consonant and stretch the vowel. These are sound practice units.
3Waaw without a vowelSukūn · no following vowel.
The circle above وْ means there is no vowel on this consonant. Here is a complete noun, read when stopping.
Listen to the whole word.
Here waaw is a consonant: finish with w and no added vowel. It is not the long ū vowel in this word.
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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