Lesson 3: Long Vowels & Madd
Long Vowels (الحروف المدّية)
Arabic has three long vowels, each created by pairing a short vowel with a specific letter:
بَا
Fatha + Alif (ا) = "bā" (long 'aa')
Example: كِتَاب (kitāb) = book
بِي
Kasra + Ya (ي) = "bī" (long 'ee')
Example: كَبِير (kabīr) = big
بُو
Damma + Waw (و) = "bū" (long 'oo')
Example: رَسُول (rasūl) = messenger
Madd (مدّ) — Stretching
When a fatha is followed by an alif, the vowel is stretched for 2 counts. In the Quran, Madd is marked with a small wave (ـٰ) above the letter. There are also longer stretches of 4-6 counts in specific tajweed rules.