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 الـ:
ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن
Letters which do not cause elision of الـ:
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-khubz 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-qiSSa 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 |
|
