These are a few very basic learn to read the alphabet lessons. The words are mostly in English so you can more easily recognise the shape of the letters.Write to us to let us know if you find the lessons useful and if you spot any mistakes.
Arabic is written in the opposite direction from English ie from your Right to Left. In the figure below are two letters sh as in shame and n as in no.
Each letter is written in four forms . For eg if Sh comes in the beginning of a word it is written as
If in the middle as in
If at the end as
and if on its own , in a detached form
These are the four forms of Sh and N marked detached , initial , medial and final.
Supposing we wanted to make a word beginning with Sh and ending with N ( eg to shun somebody) we take initial form of Sh and final form of N to make shn
Now follows the whole Arabic alphabet with the closest English equivalent .
Note that in the figure below (which has the equivalent Hindi sound added ) some sounds share a common letter. For example B and P are the same , although in some Arab countries three dots are present under B to make it P.
