5.3 Grammar: The Definite Article

Grammar (1)

Sun and Moon Letters

The use of الـ in Arabic determines definite nouns. In Arabic, the consonants are divided into two groups: the Sun-letters (حروف شمسية‎) and Moon-letters (حروف قمرية). This classification is based on whether or not they assimilate the definite article al ال. When the definite article is assimilated into the Sun-letters it loses its distinctive sound. As a result, the sound at the beginning of the word is doubled. (Given Shaddah).

There are 28 consonants in the Arabic alphabet. Exactly half are Sun and half are Moon. Can you feel where your tongue is when you say al? It’s at your teeth. Notice how your mouth changes when you make the sh sound? al ال and sh ش are very close to each other: they’re both produced right at the front of your mouth. The Sun-letters assimilate the ‘Lam’ because it makes pronunciation easier. So the Arabs make use of Idgham (ادغام) to make the speech light. Now say القمر (Al Qamar). As far as your tongue is concerned, the al‘ ال is nowhere near the qaf ق sound. The Moon-letters, therefore, keep the ‘L’ ل sound. It is pronounced with the alif ا and then the Lam ل for the Moon letter.

The 14 Sun-letters are: (ﻥ ,ﻝ ,ﻅ ,ﻁ ,ﺽ ,ﺹ ,ﺵ ,ﺱ ,ﺯ ,ﺭ ,ﺫ ,ﺩ ,ﺙ ,ﺕ).

Here are some examples of words that begin with sun letters:

(الرّحمن) The Merciful: a name of Allah.

(الضّحى) the morning brightness.

(التّاج) the crown.

(الثّلج) the ice.

(الدّب) the bear.

(الرّجل) the man.

(الزّمن) the time.

The 14 Moon-letters are: ( ه ,ﻱ ,ﻭ ,ﻡ ,ﻙ ,ﻕ ,ﻑ ,ﻍ ,ﻉ ,ﺥ ,ﺡ ,ﺝ ,ﺏ ,أ).

Examples of words that begin with moon letters are:

(الْارض) the earth.

(الْخلق) the creation.

(الْقيامة) the Day of Judgment.

(الْكتاب) the book.

(الْيوم) the day.

(الْبحر) the sea.

(الْفيل) the elephant.

Summary

• Definite nouns in Arabic begin with ال al
• The way the definite article is pronounced in Arabic is determined by the letter after it.
• If the letter after the definite article is a Sun letter, the letter is merged/assimilated into the definite article.
• If the letter after the definite article is a Moon-letter, the Lam ل of the definite article is pronounced.
• These names come from the fact that the word for the Sun, Al Shams, is pronounced “Ash Shams,” assimilating the Lam. While the word for the moon, Al Qamar, does not.

To practice, read the names of Arab countries and determine which include Shams or Moon letters.

Activity (11): Listen and practice reading these sentences. Note how you assimilate the preposition with the following definite article.

Grammar (2)

Definiteness and Sentence Structure

Study the following boxes and note the differences.

The simplest form of the Arabic sentence includes a definite noun and an indefinite adjective. If the noun and adjective agree in definiteness/indefiniteness, you get a phrase, not a sentence.

Activity (12): Practice different ways to change these phrases into sentences.

Activity (13): Match sentences to their translations. Pay attention to the use of definiteness.