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The Definite Article (ال)

Using the definite article

ال makes a noun definite

Prefix ال (al-) to a noun to mean 'the'. Indefinite nouns carry no article.

💬 Examples
كِتاب
kitaab
a book
📝 Indefinite
الكِتاب
al-kitaab
the book
📝 Definite with ال
Sun letters assimilate the L

Before 14 'sun letters' the L of ال is not pronounced; the following letter doubles instead.

📊 Sun vs moon letters
Type Example Written Pronounced
Sun sun الشمس ash-shams
Moon moon القمر al-qamar
💬 Examples
الشَّمس
ash-shams
the sun
📝 ل assimilates into ش (a sun letter)
النَّجم
an-najm
the star
📝 ل assimilates into ن
Moon letters keep the L

Before the other 14 'moon letters' the L of ال is pronounced clearly.

💬 Examples
القَمَر
al-qamar
the moon
📝 ل pronounced before ق (a moon letter)
البَيت
al-bayt
the house
📝 ل pronounced before ب