11.1: ﭐ (Hamzat Alwasel) and آ (Alif Maddah)

ﭐ" همزة الوصل " Hamzat Alwasel

• What is ﭐ" همزة الوصل " Hamzat Alwasel?

In chapter four, we learned the words "ابن"," ابنة" and "اسم." In these examples, the words are started with همزة الوصل "HamzatAlwasel." This form of Hamza appears at the beginning of a word. همزة الوصل Hamzat "Alwasel meaning" is a hamza that connects or joins. It is a non-phonemic glottal stop produced automatically only if at the beginning of an utterance; otherwise, it is written yet not pronounced. ﭐ" همزة الوصل " Hamzat Alwasel is written with an alif carrying a Waslah sign, which is a small letter صـ on top of it ﭐ. Also, it can be written with a plain Ailf without the Waslah sign.

• Why we use ﭐ" همزة الوصل " Hamzat Alwasel?

Some words are not written with a short vowel on the first letter, like "اسْم," and starting a word with Sukoon السكون is not permissible in Arabic. So, we use an extra Hamza at the beginning of the word. This extra tool is called ﭐ" همزة الوصل " Hamzat Alwasel.

• This form of Hamza appears at the beginning of a word, but if preceded by some word or letter, it is not pronounced, even if it is written.
• You should know that ﭐ" همزة الوصل " Hamzat Alwasel is different from the consonant hamza "همزة القطع "ئ ؤ أ ء Hamzat Alkat'a.
• "همزة القطع "ئ ؤ أ ء Hamzat Alkat'a comes at the beginning, middle, or end of the word. It is pronounced with Sukoon and the short and long vowels.

Please read and listen to the following examples.