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Volume 1 · Lesson 2 · Letters
Lam, Kaf, Ra, Zay · Tanween
pages 4–7
ل
Letter 1 of 4
The letter ل (Lam) is pronounced like the "l" in "light" or "lamp".
It is one of the most common letters in Arabic and is essential for the definite article "ال".
☽ MOON LETTER (حرف قمري): Lam is a MOON LETTER. When the definite article "ال" precedes it, the "l" is pronounced fully. Example: اللَّيْل = "al-layl" (the night) - Note: you hear BOTH the "l" from ال AND the ل of the word!
Lam has a distinctive tall vertical stroke that rises above other letters - like a flag pole. In its isolated and final forms, it curves at the bottom.
ل forms special ligatures (combined shapes) with certain letters:
These combinations are written as single joined shapes, not separately.
THE DEFINITE ARTICLE ال: Lam is half of the definite article "ال" (the). Understanding how this works is crucial:
How the letter changes with its place in a word, shown inside real words.
ل
لَ
la
لـ
لَبَنْ
laban
milk/yogurt
ـلـ
بَلَتَ
balata
ـل
بَلَ
bala
Short vowel marks change the sound that follows the letter.
لَ
لُ
لِ
لْ
لً
لٌ
لٍ
Read each word; the new letter is highlighted.
لَبَنْ
laban
milk/yogurt
لَ
la
لُ
lu
لِ
li
لً
lan
لَبَ
laba
بَلَ
bala
لَتَ
lata
نَلَ
nala
Check what you have learned, then read the practice words aloud.
Identify
Which word contains ل?
Read each word, peek at the reading if you need to, and tick it off.
لَ
لُ
لِ
لْ
لً
لٌ
بَلَ
لَبَ
تَلَ
لَتَ
نَلَ
لَنَ
Trace each form over the guide, then try it freely.