Tanween in Arabic spices up words with a nasal /n/ sound, marked by symbols like ً, ٍ, and ٌ. These marks signal indefiniteness and help define a word’s role—whether it’s the subject, object, or part of a possession. They’re key for mastering pronunciation and understanding in Arabic.
Arabic is definitely one of those languages distinguished by some certain diacritical marks. Those diacritics don’t only determine the word’s pronunciation, but also reveal a lot about its grammatical position, definitional status, contextual meaning and even beyond.
Anyone learning the Arabic language, for sure, studies the diacritical marks (the short vowels), and also what is called “tanween”. Keep reading attentively to know some needed basics about tanween in Arabic.
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What Is Tanween in Arabic?
The meaning of tanween in Arabic is similar to the English term ‘nunation’. Tanween simply refers to that pronounced-unwritten, nasal sound of /ن/ noon, added at the last letter of the word -certain nouns, and adjectives- with doubling that letter’s short vowel, whether fatha, damma, Kasra. So, it results in three diacritical symbols of tanween: ً, ٍ, ٌ.
Tanween Rules:
Understanding the rules governing Tanween is crucial for mastering proper pronunciation and grammatical accuracy in both classical and modern Arabic. There are three main rules of Tanween Rules:
1- Placed at the End of the Word:
As you see, tanween in Arabic is placed only at the end of the word.
2- Adding Alif after Tanween Al-fath:
Like in the examples of tanween Al-Fath, we add /ا/ after the last letter with tanween.
3- Doubling the Last Letter’s Short Vowel:
Tanween is marked by doubling the short vowel of the last letter of the word, making it whether tanween Al-fath (ً), tanween Al-damm (ٌ), or tanween al-kasr (ٍ).
What Is the Purpose of Tanween in Arabic?
Every linguistic feature in Arabic has a meaning to add. Likewise, tanween is utilized in Arabic for:
1. Indicating the Indefinite Names, and Adjectives:
Tanween indicates the indefiniteness of the noun, or the adjective; so, tanween comes only with the general, indefinite nouns, and adjectives, and never with the definite. It is an indefinite mark as ‘a’, and ‘an’ in English.
2. Differentiating between the Nominal, Grammatical Positions, and Precise Meanings:
As tanween is marked, along with the short vowel, at the end of the word, it helps us to decide whether it is subject, or object, in a sentence, clarifying the right contextual, intended meaning.
By looking at the word’s tanween, whether it is tanween-Damma ٌ, tanween-Kasra ٍ, or tanween-fatha ً, we can decide its grammatical, and meaningful position.
3. Pronouncing the Words Accurately, and Properly:
As said, tanween is a pronounced n-sound added to the doubling of the last letter’s short vowel, whether fatha, damma, kasra. So, pronouncing the tanween properly is needed, for sure, for articulating the word correctly, and distinctively.
Tanween Types and Pronunciation, and Symbols of Each Type:
As said, tanween is that added n-sound, combined with doubling the short vowel of the last letter of the indefinite word, whether fatha, damma, or kasra. So, that leads to three types, and symbols of tanween:
1. Tanween Al-Fath (ـً):
Tanween Al-Fatha is marked by a double fatha (ً) above the last letter of the word. It indicates an indefinite, accusative case, the nouns-object position.
It is pronounced by adding /n/ to the fatha sound /a/: so, tanween Al-Fath becomes /an/ at the end of the word. Let’s try pronouncing some examples of tanween Al-fath, together:
لوحًا/Lewahan/ (some paintings)
نقودًا /Nuqudan/ (money)
درسًا /Darsan/ (a lesson)
Note: In Arabic, we usually, add /ا/ after the letter with tanween Al-fath in the indefinite, object-positioned nouns, like: لوحًا, نقودًا, درسًا.
2. Tanween Al-Damm (ـٌ):
Tanween Al-damm is marked by a double damma (ٌ) above the last letter of the word. It indicates the indefinite nominative case, and subject-positioned nouns.
It is pronounced by adding /n/ to the damma sound /u/: so, tanween Al-damm becomes /un/ at the end of the word. Let’s try pronouncing some examples of tanween Al-damm, together:
فتاةٌ /fatatun/ (a girl)
طفلٌ /Teflun/ (a child)
رجلٌ /rajulun/ (a man)
3. Tanween Al-Kasr (ـٍ):
Tanween Al-kasra is marked by a double kasra (ٍ) above the last letter of the word. It indicates an indefinite, genitive case, and possessive-positioned nouns.
It is pronounced by adding /n/ to the kasra sound /i/: so, tanween Al-kasr becomes /in/ at the end of the word. Let’s try pronouncing some examples of tanween Al-kasr, together:
مكتبٍ /Maktabin/ ( an office )
راكبٍ /Rakibin/ (a passenger)
عابرِ /’abirin/ ( passing)
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Conclusion:
Tanween in Arabic, or nunation, adds a nasal /n/ sound to the end of certain words, marked by three symbols: Tanween Al-Fath (ـً), Tanween Al-Damm (ـٌ), and Tanween Al-Kasr (ـٍ). These symbols indicate indefiniteness and grammatical cases—accusative, nominative, and genitive, respectively. Tanween clarifies a word’s role in a sentence, affecting meaning and pronunciation, making it essential for accurate understanding and expression in Arabic.
Realizing the subtle significance of tanween in Arabic, you should pay close attention to it, whether in reading, or writing. To know more about tanween, and the diacritics in Arabic, Bayan Academy is always here to help you.
