8.4: The Arabic Definite Article لام التعريف (الـ)

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Learning Objectives

In this section, you will be able to:

Identify the definite article "الـ."
Differentiate between the Moon and Sun definite articles "الـ."
Differentiate between and form definite and indefinite nouns.

In this section, you will learn about the article specifying the nouns in Arabic. English has one definite article: the, which indicates a specific noun. Also, Arabic has one definite article: الـ,(AL). The definite article in Arabic is a prefix attached to the beginning of the noun. The definite article consists of two letters Hamza Alwasl and Laam with sukoon( الْـ). Hamza Alwasl is pronounced with fataha, and you do not write the Hamza on the top of the Alif to differentiate the regular Hamza from Hamza Alwasl. Hamza Alwasl is used to pronounce the letter with sukun at the beginning of the word, so it is a tool to help pronounce the silent letter at the beginning of the word. The definite article in Arabic is attached to singular, dual and plural nouns. The definite article in Arabic is called Laam At-ta'areef ("الـ" لام التعريف ).

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

The building

In Arabic

الْبِنايَة

Definite vs. Indefinite

You will compare the definite article (الْـ) and the indefinite article Tanweenالتنوين.

Compare the definite article and indefinite article in Arabic
لام التعريف Definite Article	التّنوين Indefinite Article.
It is a prefix that is attached to the beginning of the noun	It is two identical short vowels comes at the end of the noun
It can accompany singular, dual, and plural nouns	It can accompany singular nouns and irregular plurals. It does not accompany dual and regular plurals nouns.
Indicates Hamza Alwasl and silent Laam	Indicates the short vowel and the sound of silent noon ()
It must be written or typed	It could be ignored in writing and sometimes in typing

Example \(\PageIndex{2}\)

Listen to each word with a definite and an indefinite article.
Arabic words with definite and indefinite articles
Recording	Definite	Indefinite	Recording	Definite	Indefinite
	ُالْعِنْوان	عِنْوانٌ		الْأُسْرَةُ	أُسْرَةٌ
	ُالْهاتِف	هاتِفٌ		الْخَيْـرُ	خَيْرٌ
	الْحَمّامُ	حَمّامٌ		الْباصُ	ٌباص
	الْعَمَلُ	عَمَلٌ		الْخِزانَةُ	خِزانَةٌ
	ُالْقَهوَة	قَهْوَةٌ		ُالْكوب	ٌكوب

The pronunciation of the Definite Article الـْ

The definite article in Arabic is pronounced in two ways and it depends on the letter that comes after it. The Laam in the definite article is pronounced silent Lamm if a group of letters follows, and it is called the Moon letters. The moon letters are 13 letters:

أ - ب - ج - ح - خ - ع - غ - ف - ق - ك - م - هـ - و - ي

However, the letter Laam will be dropped, and it won't be pronounced when it is followed by one of the sun letters. "Hamza Alwasl" همزة الوصل will be pronounced as أَ. The sun letters are 15 letters:

ت - ث - د - ذ- ر - ز - س - ش - ص- ض - ط - ظ - ل - ن

You should know the word sun in Arabic is شمس and the word moon is قَمَر. The word الشَّمْس is pronounced "أَشَّمْس" when it is attached to the definite article. The Laam in the definite article before the sun letters is mergerd with the first letter of the noun, and you pronounce the letter with the Shadda. The sun letter always carries a Shadda after the definite article الـ. Check these words:

Example \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Listen to these words from right to left with the definite article الـ التعريف which is followed by a sun letter, and pay attention to the stressing sound with Shadda:

التِّلفِزْيونُ- الثِّيابُ - الدَّجاج - الزَّوج - السَّيارَةُ - الرَّماديُّ - الشّايُ - الصُّورَةُ - اللَّحمُ- النَّاديُّ

Important Rules:

You should always write the definite article الـ التعريف regardless if it is followed by a sun letter or a moon letter.

You should drop Hamza Alwasl when the definite article does not begin a sentence, and connect the end of the previous word with the beginning of the word that starts with the definite article. You drop Hamza Alwasl and connect the last letter to the proceed word to the silent Laam if the word starts with the moon letter. However, you drop Hamza Alwasl and the silent Laam if the word starts with the sun letter, and pay attention to the Shadda.

Check the examples: