Introduction

Arabic uses an alphabetic writing system, where each sound is represented by a letter. The alphabet consists of 28 letters, which represent the Arabic consonants and long vowels. A few more symbols are used to indicate the short vowels. A few more symbols are used to indicate the short vowels, the doubling of consonants, the absence of a vowel sound, and the hamza or glottal stop, which will be discussed below.

The Arabic writing system is much more systematic than the English system; for the most part, each Arabic letter or symbol stands for one sound, and each sound is represented by one symbol stands for one sound, and each sound is represented by one symbol. In English, for example, the letter s is pronounced differently in the words seem, easy, pleasure, and sugar, while the sound s is spelled differently in sit, city, scene, taxi, and massive. English vowels show even more irregularity. Think of the sounds represented by the letter o in do, does, doe, how, and hot. Arabic irregulates are much more limited.

The following table lists the Arabic letters and the sounds they represent using a Romanized transliteration system. It will serve as a pronunciation guide throughout the book. The letters marked with an asterisk (*) represent sounds not found in English. Short explanatory notes appear next to these. If no notes appear, then the transcription symbol represents the typical English pronunciation of the letter given. So, in the second row, the Arabic letter ب is pronounced the same as the English consonant b used in the transliteration.