Pronunciation
The ة in الإضافة
The ة, usually an indicator of the feminine gender as you have learned in Chapter 1, should not be pronounced as “t” except in الإضافة construction as noted on AK page 41. For now, when ة occurs in the first or second term of an إضافة, you need to pronounce it as “t”. When ة occurs in the last term of the إضافة, it is silent.
Listen carefully to the words ending with ة in the following examples. The blue-colored ة is pronounced because it is the first or second term in إضافة. The pink-colored ة is either the last term of an إضافة or not in an إضافة altogether.
Examples
۱- هذه صورة الجامعة. 
meaningThis is a photo of the university.
۲- والدة ليلى تعمل في مكتبة كليّة الهندسة. meaningLaila’s mother works at the library of the College of Engineering.
۳- أنا طالبة جزائريّة. meaningI (feminine singular) am an Algerian student.
٤- أنا طالبة في كليّة العلوم السياسيّة. meaningI am a student in the college of political science.
Notice how all the blue-colored ة are pronounced as “t” because they occur in an إضافة. The words الجامعة and الهندسة however, occur in the last terms of the إضافة, therefore the ة in these words remains silent. In example۳ the ة is silent because it occurs in a noun-adjective phrase. The same applies to the word السياسيّة in example ٤ which also occurs in a noun-adjective phrase.
Finally, please note that the ة is exceptionally pronounced as “t” in parts of the Arab world regardless of whether it occurs in an إضافة or not; in a handful of words such as حَياة life, فـَتاة young woman, and زَكاة tax.
Example
هذه فتاة مغربيّة. meaningThis is a Moroccan young woman.
Practice
Study these sentences and decide which ة is pronounced and which is left silent then read them aloud. Click to check answers and keep on practicing the pronunciation of ة in إضافة.
۱- والدتي لبنانيّة. meaningMy mother is Lebanese.
۲- هذه ترجمة رسالة الأستاذة. meaningThis is a translation of the teacher’s letter.
۳- هذه سيّارة ابنة خالة صديقي. meaningThis is my friend’s cousin’s car.
٤- زوجة عمّي اسمها نادية. meaningMy uncle’s wife is called Nadia.
٥- خالتي تسكن في مدينة القاهرة. meaningMy aunt lives in Cairo.
٦- بناية مكتبة الجامعة في شارع قريب من بناية مكتبة المدينة. meaningThe building of the university library is in a street near the building of the city’s library.
٧- هذه صورة عائلة والدي. meaningThis is a picture of my father’s family.
٨- هي فتاة سوريّة. meaningShe is a Syrian girl.
٩- سليمة تسكن في منطقة الجامعة. meaningSaliima lives in the area around the university.
Speak to Your Instructor
Practice listening and saying the following sentences in preparation for the chat session where you will be asked to read them aloud to your instructor.
۱- ولاية كاليفورنيا جميلة جدًّا. meaningCalifornia is a very beautiful state.
۲- ليلى موظّفة في بنك في دولة الكويت. meaningLaila is a bank employee in Kuwait.
۳- سعاد هي ابنة عمّة صديقة محمّد. meaningSouad is the cousin of Mohammad’s friend.
٤- هي فتاة جديدة في بنايتنا. meaningShe is a new girl in our building.
٥- أنا أعمل في مكتبة جامعة تونس. meaningI work at the library of the University of Tunisia.
٦- عائلة نايلة تسكن في بيروت. meaningNayla’s family lives in Beirut.
٧- سامية تعمل في بنك. meaningSamia works in a bank.