Extend short vowels into long ones using Alif, Waw and Ya — and learn the "silent" mark: Sukoon.
What are Long Vowels?
A short vowel can be extended (doubled in length) by placing a specific letter after it. These are the three long vowels:
بَا
Long "aa" — ( َا )
Fatha + Alif = "aa" as in faather (held longer)
بِي
Long "ii" — ( ِي )
Kasra + Ya = "ii" as in feet (held longer)
بُو
Long "uu" — ( ُو )
Damma + Waw = "uu" as in food (held longer)
Short vs Long — Hear the Difference
Short Vowel
Example
Long Vowel
Example
Difference
ka
kaa
Hold the "a" twice as long
bi
bii
Hold the "i" twice as long
nu
nuu
Hold the "u" twice as long
Sukoon — The Silence Mark ( ْ )
Sukoon ( ْ ) is a small circle placed above a letter. It means no vowel — the letter is pronounced but has no "a/i/u" sound after it. It creates a "stopped" consonant sound.
بْ
With Sukoon
Just "b" — no vowel after
Example: The word كَتَبَ (kataba — he wrote) vs كَتْب (katb — writing). The ت has a Sukoon in the second word, making it a "stopped" t sound.