Unit 3 · Lesson 14
Al- and the sun letters
When the l of “the” is heard
ٱلْ (al-) means “the”. Its lām is said clearly before some letters, and merges into the next letter before others.
Moon letters: say the lām
ٱلْقَمَرBefore the 14 moon letters, the lām keeps its sukūn and is said clearly: al-qamar. They are gathered in the phrase ٱبْغِ حَجَّكَ وَخَفْ عَقِيمَهُ.
Sun letters: merge the lām
ٱلشَّمْسBefore the 14 sun letters, the lām is silent and the next letter is doubled with a shadda: ash-shams, not al-shams.
| Moon letters | ء ب غ ح ج ك و خ ف ع ق ي م ه |
| Sun letters | ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن |
PRACTICE
Tap an answer to check yourself.
How is this read?
ٱلنَّاس
Is the lām read here?
ٱلْكِتَاب
Which of these is a sun letter?