Modern Standard Arabic guides
Learning the Arabic alphabet: a beginner's guide
How the Arabic alphabet works — 28 letters, right-to-left writing, connected letter forms and short vowels — and how to learn it step by step.
Short answer
The Arabic alphabet has 28 letters, written from right to left. Most letters connect and change shape depending on their position in a word. Short vowels are usually not written in everyday texts, so beginners learn with vowel marks first.
Key features
- 28 letters, written right to left
- Most letters have initial, middle, final and isolated forms
- Six letters don't connect to the following letter
- Short vowels are small marks above or below letters
- Long vowels are written with letters (ا و ي)
A step-by-step approach
Learn letters in groups that share a shape (for example ب ت ث), practise writing them by hand, then read short words with vowel marks before moving to unvowelled text.
Sounds to practise
Some sounds, such as ع (ʿayn), ح (ḥa) and ق (qaf), have no English equivalent. A teacher's feedback helps you hear and produce them correctly.
Lisanova Academy teaches live online lessons with Moroccan teachers. Book a free trial lesson first, then choose a private package (8 hours $120, 12 hours $170, 16 hours $200).
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- Modern Standard Arabic for reading news and documents
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See also Modern Standard Arabic lessons, Moroccan Arabic lessons, group Darija classes and pricing.
Answers
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