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VOWELS
In standard Arabic, there are three short and three long vowels.
Short Vowels
Short vowels are small signs written above or under the letters indicating the consonants after which they are to be pronounced. In modern written texts most short vowels are not indicated. This means that a thorough knowledge of Arabic vocabulary and grammar is necessary to read “unvocalized” written text. A text in which vowels are marked is called “vocalized” text.
| Vowel | Sign | English equivalent |
| a |  | Amsterdam” |
| i |  | inside” |
| a |  | to go” |
Long Vowels
The three long vowels are:
| Vowel | Sign | English equivalent |
| aa |  | as in “far” |
| ii |  | as in “clean” |
| uu |  | as in “noon” |
PART 1
Lists of Words / Expressions
Peace be upon you.*
as-salaamu `alaykum (assalaamo `alaykom)
(Response to “peace be upon you”)*
wa`alaykum as-salaam (wa`alaykom assalaam)
* Islamic greetings. See 165-169.
Good morning.
sabaahul khayr (sabaahel kheir)
(Response to “good morning”)
sabaahun nuur (sabaahenoor)
Good evening.
masaa’ul khayr (masaa’ol kheir)
(Response to “good evening”)
masaa’un nuur (masaa’in noor)
Welcome.
ahlan wa sahlan (ahlan wa sahlan)
Goodbye.
ma` as-salaamah (ma`as salaamah)
See you later.
‘ilaa al-liqaa’ (‘ilal leqaa’)
Have a good night.
tusbih / tusbihiina (fem.) (tosbeh / tosbeheena)
`alaa khayr (`alaa kheir)
Thank you! (sing. male)
shukran laka (shokran laka)
Thank you! (sing. female)
shukran laki (shokran laki)
You are welcome. (Response to “thank you” or “thanks”)
`afwan (`af one)
Thank you very much.
shukran jaziilan (shok run jazeelan)
Thanks for the hospitality.
shukran `alad diyaafah (shok run `alad deyaafa)
No, thanks.
laa, shukran (laa, shokran)
Don’t mention it. (Literally: “No thanks, this is our duty.”)
laa shukra `alaa waajib (laa shokra `alaa waajeb)
Don’t thank me.
laa tashkurnii (laa tash kor nee)
Thank him for me, please.
ushkurhu `annii (osh korho `annee)