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7.2: Letter Sheen

  • Page ID
    271501
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    Learning Objectives

    In this section, you will be able to:

    • Read and write ش in its different shapes.
    • Pronounce the letter ش with short and long vowels.

    Introduction

    The letter "ش" (sheen) is the thirteenth letter of the Arabic alphabet. Pronounced like the "sh" in the English word "shoe," "sheen" is a voiceless postalveolar fricative, producing a sound that is both smooth and distinctive. Its shape is characterized by three dots arranged in a triangular formation above a base that resembles a small, wavy line.

    Mastering the pronunciation and various forms of "sheen" is essential for learners of Arabic. It helps in achieving accurate pronunciation and effective communication. Understanding its different positions within words is also crucial for reading and writing Arabic correctly.

    "Sheen" appears in many everyday Arabic words and expressions, making it an important letter to recognize and use. Its presence in common phrases, such as "إن شاء الله" (in shaa' Allah), meaning "God willing," highlights its significance in daily conversation and cultural expressions.

    The Letter Sheen ش

    The letter “ش” articulation point is the middle of the tongue and what lies opposite to it from the roof of the mouth of the hard palate – similar to the letter “ج” and the consonant “ي,” but it has specific characteristics. The letter “ش” is similar to the English sound “sh” in the words “should, shall, she”.

    Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter ش
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter " ش"

    Pronunciation of letter Sheen "ش" with short vowels الحركات and absence of short vowels السكون.

    Pronunciation of the Letter Sheen ش with Short Vowels and Sukoon
    The Marks (Harakat الحركات) The Letter with the mark Audio

    Fataha

    الفتحة

    شَ

    Dhama

    الضمة

    شُ

    Kasra

    الكسرة

    شِ

    Absence of short vowel

    Sukoon

    السكون

    شْ

    Pronunciation of the letter Sheen "ش" with long vowels.

    Pronunciation of Letter ش with Long Vowels
    The Long Vowel المدود The Letter with a long vowel Audio

    The long vowel "ا"=aa

    شا

    The long vowel "و"= oo/uu

    شو

    The long vowel "ي"=ee/ii شي

    How to Write The Letter ش

    You write the letter Sheen "ش" in the same way you write the letter Seen "س", but with the addition of three dots over the three teeth. The three dots are connected in handwriting and take the shape of the overturned letter "v". (Watch the video)

    Writing Letter ش
    Final Medial Initial Isolated
    ـش ـشـ شــ ش

    Watch the video to learn how to write the letter Sheen

    Watch the video to learn more about the letter Sheen الحرف شين. The letter changes shape depending on their position in a word.

    Activities

    Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)
    Query \(\PageIndex{2}\)
    Query \(\PageIndex{3}\)
    Query \(\PageIndex{4}\)
    Query \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    7.2: Letter Sheen is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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