Lesson 2 · Book page 13
Introducing Arabic Words
Base letters, the model letters ف-ع-ل, and how patterns build new words.
1.Letters and vowels
The Arabic alphabet has twenty-nine letters and three short vowels: fatḥah ( ـَ ), kasrah ( ـِ ) and ḍammah ( ـُ ).
2.Three base letters
Most Arabic words come from three base letters that together carry a meaning. ك-ت-ب expresses "to write".
3.The model letters ف-ع-ل
ف-ع-ل ("to do") is the model. The first letter is the fā' position, the second the 'ain position, the third the lām position.
4.Patterns
Nouns and verbs are made by placing base letters on patterns. فَاعِل means "one who does": put ك-ت-ب on it to get كَاتِب "one who writes", or ع-ب-د to get عَابِد "one who worships".