Writting Hamza – Ways in Which a Hamza can be Written – Learn Arabic Free Online
Writting Hamza – Ways in Which a Hamza can be Written – Learn Arabic Free Online
Ways in Which a Hamza can be Written
Hamza is written in one of four ways:
by itself on the line, as in جاءَ
on a ياء, as in سُئِلَ
on a واو, as in سُؤال
on an الف, as in سَأَلَ
In order to learn the rules that govern which of these forms will be used, we consider the Hamza as it appears in the beginning of a word, at the end, and in the middle. But note that these rules may have exceptions and this is merely a guideline or rule of thumb.
Word Initial
The Hamza will always be written on an الف. This is despite the vowel on it and despite any preceding particles (like the definite article, conjunctions, etc).
Examples
والإِسْتِقْرار
إِقامة
أُقيمَ
أَقامَ
Word Internal
To facilitate the learning of these rules, consider the following hierarchy of vowels in the language:
Priority Low
Priority Medium
Priority High
فتحة
و or ضمة
ي or كسرة
If the Hamza is preceded and or followed by ياء or كسرة, it’s written on a ياء.
Examples
لُـئَيْم
سُئِلَ
هَيْـئَة
جِئْتُ
If there is no ياء or كسرة in the vicinity, then if the Hamza is preceded and or followed by واو or ضمة, it’s written on a واو.
Examples
تَـؤَوَّلَ
يَؤُم
اِسْتَوْؤَرَ *
بُـؤْس
If there are none of those vowels in the vicinity, then if the Hamza is preceded and or followed by الف or فتحة, it’s written on an الف.
Examples
رَأَى
*
رَأْس
* When a Hamza has (is followed by) a فتحة and is preceded by a long vowel الف or واو, it is written on the line:
Examples
مُرُوْءَة
جاءَت
There are plenty of exceptions. Consider, for example:
رَأَوْا
The rules tell us to use a واو for the Hamza, but it uses an الف. It is better to simply memorize the case for each new word one encounters. And this is how most students approach this.
Word Final
The Hamza will be written on the line if it is preceded by a سكون (this includes long vowels and diphthongs).
Examples
شَيْء
ضَوْء
يَجِيْء
وُضُوْء
جاءَ
مَرْء
The Hamza will be written according to the Word Internal Rules if it is not preceded by a سكون.