damma

For complete coverage of Arabic vowels (damma, fatHa, and kasra), check out Chapter 1.

Arabic for Dummies Bouchentouf, Amine 2006

In English transcription, which I use in this book, it's simply represented by the letter "a," as in the words kalb (kah-leb; dog) or walad (wah-lahd; boy). damma: The second main Arabic vowel is the damma (dah-mah).

Arabic for Dummies Bouchentouf, Amine 2006

Double damma: tanwiin with damma creates the "oun" sound.

Arabic for Dummies Bouchentouf, Amine 2006

Arabic Vowel Characters Explanation To create a long vowel form of a fatHa To create a long vowel form of a damma To create a long vowel form of a kasra Diphthongs Diphthongs in Arabic are a special category of vowels because, in essence, they're monosyllabic sounds that begin with one vowel and "glide" into another vowel.

Arabic for Dummies Bouchentouf, Amine 2006

For example, the dominant vowel in yaktubu is a damma (dah-mah; "ooh" sound).

Arabic for Dummies Bouchentouf, Amine 2006

The long vowel form of damma is obtained by attaching a waaw to the consonant with the damma.

Arabic for Dummies Bouchentouf, Amine 2006

Just as the ` alif elongates the fatHa and the waaw elongates the damma, the yaa 'elongates the kasra.

Arabic for Dummies Bouchentouf, Amine 2006

For example, kouratoun (koo-rah-toon; ball) contains a double damma.

Arabic for Dummies Bouchentouf, Amine 2006

The damma [Arabic vowel] in [Arabic] is never pronounced by the Arabians, who say Amr Ibn el Las, ([Arabic]) and not Amrou

Travels in Arabia 2003

Ibn el Las, placing the damma [Arabic vowel] merely to distinguish the word from [Arabic] Omar.

Travels in Arabia 2003