Arabic Learning Notes
How to place الهمزة المتوسطة using vowel strength and fast comparisons.
Compare the hamza vowel with the previous vowel; the stronger vowel chooses the seat.
To place a medial hamza correctly, compare two vowels: (1) the vowel on the hamza, and (2) the vowel on the letter before it. The stronger vowel decides the seat (أ / ؤ / ئ).
كَسْرَة > ضَمَّة > فَتْحَة > سُكُون
| Vowel | Arabic | Hamza Seat | Medial Shape |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kasra | ِ | ئ | ـئـ |
| Damma | ُ | ؤ | ـؤ |
| Fatha | َ | أ | ـأ |
| Sukun | ْ | depends on stronger neighboring vowel | — |
رَأْس
head
Fatḥa on رَ is stronger than sukūn on hamza, so the seat is أ.
سُؤَال
question
Ḍamma on سُ is stronger than fatḥa on hamza, so the seat is ؤ.
طَائِف
roaming / Taif
Kasra on hamza is stronger than the preceding long alif (treated like sukūn), so the seat is ئ.
| Word | Hamza Vowel | Preceding Vowel | Comparison | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| رَأْس | Sukun | Fatha | Fatha > Sukun | أ |
| سُؤَال | Fatha | Damma | Damma > Fatha | ؤ |
| طَائِف | Kasra | Sukun (madd) | Kasra > Sukun | ئ |
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| رَمْزُ الاسْتِجَابَةِ السَّرِيعَة | ramz al-istijāba al-sarīʿa | QR code |
| باركود | bārkōd | barcode |
| اسْتِبْيَان | istibyān | questionnaire / survey |
| بُؤْس | buʾs | misery / sadness |
| لُؤْلُؤ | luʾluʾ | pearl |
| سُؤَال | suʾāl | question |
| التَّفَاؤُل | at-tafāʾul | optimism |
| يُقَارِنُ | yuqārinu | he compares |