[08]  sun letters followed by the definite article

Sun versus moon letters explained [click here]

We all like to speak quickly. No? Assimilation allows for this... For the definite article "the" [in other words  1-1  “il”     اِل  for colloquial/spoken OR/    اَلْ for MSA/Classical] we assimilate.   Assimilation means we drop the laam (in the definite article) and replace it with the same letter as "the first letter of the upcoming noun if the noun begins with a sun letter."   But assimilation does not occur with all definite nouns. Assimilation occurs only when the noun begins with a sun letter. This means nouns that follow a definite article must begin with a sun letter for assimilation to occur. So what is a sun letter?? See the table of sun letters below! With assimilation we do not pronounce the laam in the "il." Instead the laam is said as the sun letter similar to the first sun letter in the noun. Take a deep breath and let's take a look together...  Example: اَلرَّصيفُ            رَصيفٌ اِلرَّصيفْ            رصيف 2 rasiif (a sidewalk) - ir rasiif (the sidewalk) is correct!!   اَلرَّصيفُ اِلرَّصيفْ 4 il rasiif  - is wrong!! (listen to the recording) ir rasiif is a great example of assimilation between the definite article ir and the noun rasiif. Note that the letter r is a sun letter. Arabic native speakers do not say: il rasiif But say: ir rasiif After all, you speak faster with assimilation!  Note: Don't forget to place a shaddah above the sun letter when writing the Arabic text. For example: اِلرَّصيفْ Do you see the shaddah above the rah?? Take a close look! Once a shaddah is placed above a letter it implies "there are two copies of the letter!" Why write the letter twice if you can place a shaddah above it.  Listen and Repeat the sun letters... Moon Letters Sun letters (assimilation occurs) ‘   د   5 d  b   ض 6 ḍ f   ج 7 g ç   ل 9 l See more examples of sun letters

Take note [click here]

Take note... 1- Only nouns beginning with a sun letter are assimilated with the definite article “il.” 2- As for nouns beginning with moon letters the laam in the “il” is pronounced. 3- Remember the sun letters and forget the moon letters. Sun letters should be recognized to know when to assimilate. Moon letters are not important for assimilation or anywhere else for that matter. 4- In Arabic text a shaddah is placed above the sun letter.

Listen and repeat [click here]

Listen carefully to the nouns with and without assimilation... Indefinite nouns                          Definite nouns سَيِّدَةٌ سِتّ ْ 19 sitt - lady السَّيِّدَةُ السِّتّ ْ 20 Is sitt مَدْرَسَةٌ مَدْرَسَة ْ 21 madrasa - school اَلْمَدْرَسَةُ اِلْمَدْرَسَة 22 Il madrasa See more examples

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