4.3: The Consonant Hamza الهمزة
- Page ID
- 260269
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- Read and write الهمزة in its different shapes.
- Pronounce the consonant الهمزة with short and long vowels.
Introduction
The consonant Hamza (ء) is a unique and important character in the Arabic alphabet, particularly for first-level language learners. Unlike other letters, Hamza does not have a specific position in the alphabet but represents the glottal stop sound, similar to the quick break in the middle of the English expression "uh-oh." Hamza can appear in various positions within a word: at the beginning, middle, or end.
Functions of the Consonant Hamza
Hamza الهمزة can be written on its own or placed on a carrier letter (seat) such as Alif (أ), Waw (ؤ), or Ya (ئ). For example, in the word "أحمد" (Ahmad), Hamza is placed on Alif at the beginning.
Understanding Hamza's role and its different forms is essential for proper pronunciation and spelling in Arabic, as it often indicates a break in the flow of speech and can change the meaning of words if used incorrectly. For example, "سأل" (sa'al) means "he asked," while "سال" (saal) means "it flowed."
In the Arabic language, no word or syllable begins with a vowel, and what sounds like a vowel is actually a word that begins with a hamza. For example, the word "إمام" (Imam) which means the head of the Muslim community.
Pronunciation of Hamza ء - أ - ؤ - ئ
It is a sound that you make in English when you say a word that begins with a vowel, like: apple, igloo, egg, order, if, etc. In linguistic terminology, this sound is called a glottal stop. The articulation place of the ء is at the deepest part of the throat, which is the furthest away from the mouth and the closest to the chest.
To pronounce ء: say “uh-oh” several times, as you pronounce the first vowel that point of the place is the articulation of the “Hamza” ء.
Remember, Alif, at the beginning of a word, is always a seat for Hamza, never a long vowel.
Pronunciation of consonant Hamza "ء" with short vowels الحركات and absence of short vowels السكون.
| The Marks (Harakat الحركات) | The Consonant Hamza with the mark | Audio |
|---|---|---|
|
Fataha الفتحة |
َءَ - أَ - ؤَ - ئ |
|
|
Dhama الضمة |
ءُ - أُ - ؤُ - ئُ |
|
|
Kasra الكسرة |
ءِ - أِ - ؤِ - ئِ |
|
|
Absence of short vowel Sukoon السكون |
ءْ - أْ - ؤْ - ئْ |
|
Pronunciation of the consonant Hamza with long vowels.
| The Long Vowel المدود | The Hamza with a long vowel | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| The long vowel "ا"=aa | أَ + ا= آ |
|
| The long vowel "و"= oo/uu | ؤو |
|
| The long vowel "ي"=ee/ii | ئي |
|
How to write the consonant ء
The actual shape of "Hamza" "ء" is a small "c" shape, which continues into a line on the bottom. (See the table and Video)
The initial Hamza is usually written on top of Alif which carries it.
|
Letter at the End of a Word |
Letter in the Middle of a Word |
Letter at the Beginning of a Word |
Letter Shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| ـأ - ـؤ - ـئ |
ـأ - ـؤ - ـئـ |
أ - ؤ - ئـ | ء - أ - ؤ - ئ |
The video below demonstrates how to write the Consonant Hamza ء
Watch the video to learn more about the consonant Hamza الهمزة.
Practice Hamza
Query 4.3.1
Highlight the correct answer(s):