In Arabic, vowels can be Short (like a quick tap) or Long (like a beautiful song). To make a long vowel, we use the 3 "Best Friends" of the vowel marks.
Every short vowel has a "best friend" among the letters. When they meet, the sound becomes twice as long!
Fatha loves Alif. It sounds like "Aaa" as in Father.
Damma loves Waw. It sounds like "Ooo" as in Boot.
Kasra loves Ya. It sounds like "Eee" as in Tree.
Compare the quick "tap" of the short vowel with the long "stretch" of the Madd.
Let's see how these "Stretches" look inside real Arabic words!
Click each box to reveal the "Stretch" and practice saying it out loud!
Fantastic! You've mastered the stretch. You can now distinguish between short quick sounds and long beautiful vowels!