Learn Arabic reading
Learn to read Arabic
Learning to read Arabic starts with the 28 letters and their connected shapes, then short vowel marks, then practice with vowelled texts before moving to normal unvowelled writing. Most beginners can sound out simple words within the first weeks of regular lessons.
Short answer: Learning to read Arabic starts with the 28 letters and their connected shapes, then short vowel marks, then practice with vowelled texts before moving to normal unvowelled writing. Most beginners can sound out simple words within the first weeks of regular lessons.
Step 1: letters and their shapes
Arabic is written right to left. Most letters change shape depending on whether they stand alone or sit at the start, middle or end of a word. Six letters (ا د ذ ر ز و) never join to the letter after them.
Step 2: short vowels
The alphabet writes consonants and long vowels. Short vowels are small marks above or below letters: fatha (a), kasra (i) and damma (u). Learner texts, children's books and the Quran show them; newspapers and signs usually do not.
Step 3: reading vowelled texts
Practise with fully vowelled sentences until you read them smoothly. Your teacher listens and corrects sounds such as ع, ح, ق and the emphatic letters.
Step 4: reading without vowels
As your vocabulary and grammar grow, you start predicting the missing vowels from context. This is how native readers read, and it comes with practice rather than memorising rules.
Reading in Darija
Darija is mostly spoken, but Moroccans write it in Arabic script or Latin letters in messages and on social media. Learners of Darija often learn the script later, once they can speak.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
Start your Arabic journey
Tell us your goals and your level, and we will help you choose the private package that fits.