sun and moon article
Keep the article’s spelling while hearing assimilation.
About this unit
The word for “the” is always written ال, but its l is not always heard.
| Next letter | You hear | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a sun letter, like د | no l: the next sound doubles | الدَّار · ad-dār |
| a moon letter, like ك | l | الْكَلْب · al-kalb |
The written ل stays in both cases.
Read the examples
Tap a card and listen. Try saying it too.
Words to read
الشَّمْس
the sunash-shamsالْقَمَر
the moonal-qamarالْبَاب
the dooral-bābالشَّاي
the teaash-shāyReading tips
The article is written ال. Before a sun letter such as ش, its l assimilates and the next consonant doubles: الشَّمْس is ash-shams. Before a moon letter such as ق, l is heard: الْقَمَر al-qamar. The written ل stays in both.
Sun letters: ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن. Moon letters are the others. Initial article pronunciation differs when connected to a preceding word; first recognise the stable spelling.
Reading practice
Listen before looking
Do the two recordings sound the same or different?
Sound to spelling
Listen. Choose the spelling.
Spelling to sound
Read the word. Choose its sound.
Sound to spelling
Listen. Choose the spelling.
Spelling to sound
Read the word. Choose its sound.
Read and decide
Which word keeps the article’s l sound in the isolated model?
Build the word
Listen and build the word in typing order.
Build the word
Listen and build the word in typing order.
Build the word
Listen and build the word in typing order.
Finish practice to save this unit.
You can read and write this
Keep the article’s spelling while hearing assimilation.
الشَّمْس
the sunالْقَمَر
the moonالْبَاب
the doorالشَّاي
the teaUse a Arabic keyboard
Standard Arabic keyboard or course tiles. Enter logical letters; the font shapes joins. Numbers retain normal digit order. Optional vowel marks are separate inputs.
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