Harakat are the key to reading Arabic. Once a child knows them, they can read any vowelled word.
The main harakat
| Mark | Name | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| بَ | Fatha | a | ba |
| بِ | Kasra | i | bi |
| بُ | Damma | u | bu |
| بْ | Sukoon | no vowel | b (as in أَبْ “ab”) |
| بّ | Shaddah | doubled | رَبّ “rabb” |
| بً بٍ بٌ | Tanween | an, in, un | ban, bin, bun |
Long vowels
| Short | Long |
|---|---|
| بَ (ba) | بَا (baa) |
| بِ (bi) | بِي (bee) |
| بُ (bu) | بُو (boo) |
Teaching order
- Fatha, kasra, damma.
- Tanween.
- Long vowels.
- Sukoon.
- Shaddah.
Hand signals
Hand up for fatha, down for kasra, forward (lips rounded) for damma. Children remember with movement. See fatha vs kasra.
Teacher’s tip: practise each vowel with one letter across the whole alphabet (بَ تَ ثَ جَ…) before mixing. It builds speed and confidence.
