30 Alphabet: Short vowels
short vowels: a i u
Arabic has three short vowels: a, i, u.* They are almost always “unmarked” in written sources. But as we present new vocabulary, it will be useful to use them so you can see how to pronounce the words.
The a (called a “fatHa) and u (called a Damma) are placed above the letter; the i (called a kisra) is put below a letter. The vowel is vocalized *after* the letter it is above or below.
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دَ = “da”
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دِ = “di”
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دُ = du
*Those of you with very good “ears” might notice that Egyptian Arabic has some very subtle variations of these at times–more like an “e” sound in some words, for example….but to avoid complicating things we will not introduce these formally. That said, always let your ears be your guide on particular words/expression for pronunciation.
