Specifying People and Things
Pronouncing the Definite Article ال
Elision (when the ل of the definite article takes on a sound other than "L") is based on the first letter of the word to which the article is attached. As a general rule, consonants which are pronounced in the same area of the mouth and similar postition as ل are the letters which cause elision.
Letters which cause elision of ال:
ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن
Letters which do not cause elision of ال:
أ ب ج ح خ ع غ ف ق ك م ه و ي
The following chart illustrates elision with example words for each letter.
| NOT ELIDED definite article is pronounced "al" |
ELIDED definite article is pronounced "a + first letter of the word" |
| أ | ت |
| al-'ustaadh الأستاذ | at-taliifuun التليفون |
| ب | ث |
| al-bayt البيت | ath-thaqaafa الثقافة |
| ج | د |
| al-jaamica الجامعة | ad-ductuur الدكتور |
| ح | ذ |
| al-Hukuuma الحكومة | ad-dars الدرس |
| خ | ر |
| al-xubz الخبز | ar-raqam الرقم |
| ع | ز |
| al-cunwaan العنوان | az-zamiil الزميل |
| غ | س |
| al-ghariib الغريب | as-sayyaara السيّارة |
| ف | ش |
| al-faSl الفصل | ash-shirka الشركة |
| ق | ص |
| al-qiSa القصة | aS-SaaHib الصاحب |
| ك | ض |
| al-kitaab الكتاب | aD-DaabiT الضابط |
| م | ط |
| al-muwaDH DHaf الموظّف | aT-Taalib الطالب |
| ه | ظ |
| al-handasa الهندسة | aDH-DHuhr الظهر |
| و | ل |
| al-wilaaya الولاية | al-lugha اللغة |
| ي | ن |
| al-yawm اليوم | an-nahaar النهار |