top of page

What is the Differential Alif الألِف الفارِقة or the Silent Alif in Arabic and when to use it?

Learn how and when to use the differential Alif or الألِف الفارِقة in Arabic, sometimes called the silent Alif, in a simple and easy way (Recommended for intermediate learners+)

You may have noticed an additional ALif at the end of some words which is not pronounced, such as: كَتَبوا، شَرِبوا، دَرَسوا [katabuu, sharibuu, darasuu] (they ate, they drank, they studied). This Alif is written but never pronounced and is called الألِف الفارِقَة [al-'Alif al-faariqah] or the differential or silent Alif. Although never pronounced, this Alif has some important duties to fulfill.


Firstly, watch this comprehensive lesson about the subject and preidcate in Arabic المُبْتَدأ والخَبر .

CLICK HERE TO GO TO YOUTUBE DIRECTLY.

https://youtu.be/Wkc0zxfyOPc

We can conlude from the lesson the following:

1- The differential Alif الأِلِف الفارِقَة always comes with a friend: the و “Waaw” letter, just for a “Wow” impression. ;) كَتَبوا، شَرِبوا، دَرَسوا [katabuu, sharibuu, darasuu] (they ate, they drank, they studied).


2- The differential Alif الأِلِف الفارِقَة is always used with a verb conjugated for هُم [hum; they masculine plural] or أنْتُم [Antum; uou masculine plural] pronouns, never a noun! It loves a crowd! So remember: always comes with a "wow" and a "crowd", i.e. the plural pronoun. For example: هُم كَتَبوا [Hum katabuu, they masculine plural wrote], أنْتُم: لا تَكْتُبوا [Antum, laa taktubuu, You plural masculine don't write].

The differential Alif الأِلِف الفارِقَة

3- The differential Alif الأِلِف الفارِقَة is used to differentiate between the original “Waaw” of a verb and the attached personal pronoun “Waaw” of the plural واو الجَماعَة [waaw al-jamaaʻah]. For example in the following conjugations, the "Waaw" is an original letter belonging the verb دَعا - يَدْعو and not the plural "Waaw" pronoun: أنا أدْعو، نَحْنُ نَدْعو, هُوَ يَدْعو.


The differential Alif الأِلِف الفارِقَة

4- The differential Alif الأِلِف الفارِقَة is used to differentiate between the attached personal pronoun “Waaw” of the plural واو الجَماعَة, which only attaches to a verb,and the “Waaw” of the sound masculine plural. For example: مُعَلِّمو المَدْرَسَة (the school's teacher). The "Waaw" at the end of مُعَلِّمون is that of the sound masculine plural and is not the plural "Waaw" pronoun or واو الجَماعَة [waaw al-jamaaʻah]. *The noun was omitted due to iḑaafah construction الإضافة or noun annexation, but that's a differnet topic :) .

The differential Alif الأِلِف الفارِقَة

And finally a table of conjugation showing the differential Alif الأِلِف الفارِقَة :


The differential Alif الأِلِف الفارِقَة

Enjoy the free downloads and lessons. You can now enrol in free and paid courses in Arabic, directly on the blog. Just navigate to: "Online Courses" from the main menu. Don't miss out on any new additions and free resources. Subscribe to the blog (click subscribe from the main menu). And stay tuned by Liking the Facebook Page. It's the best way to stay in touch!

You can also subscribe on YouTube for many useful videos to help you learn Arabic, including short stories, grammar lessons and free tutorials.



*Have you seen my 1 hour long mini-crash-course in Arabic grammar and comprehension, taught through a short story? (check out the entire playlist for more!)


Are you an absolute beginner in Arabic langauge; want to learn Arabic from the beginning? Here is my free online Arabic course for complete beginners, delivered in 48 minutes only! Learn Arabic conversation easily, with English translation and transcription provided. Learn over 100 sentences and 200 words! Your free online starter course in Arabic. Important Common Arabic Phrases, Vocabualry and Conversation for New Beginners, in addition to Grammar Notes. Essential and easy Arabic for beginners, with transcription and subtitles / English translation. Learn Arabic conversation and vocabulary easily. Learn the basics in Arabic conversation. Free Arabic Online Course for Beginners- Learn Arabic Conversation Easy - 100 Basic Sentences & 200 Words!




*Do you need a full revision for A level Arabic ( Arabic GCSE )or beginners level? Watch this tutorial for all the gramamr and conversation skills you need: numbers, including ordinal numbers, the dual form, shopping, parts of the day, telling time, speaking about your daily routine and more...




Another full A level revision through a short story: conversational practice, speaking about the weather, at the doctor's, using verb to be and verb to come, counting, numbers, the dual, speak about food in terms of portions, the difference between verb form I and VIII (1 and 8), and more!




Learn Arabic through Short Stories for Beginners PLAYLIST: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEvKHjeZ8kaGAsnsun_uTaik9BaprMXnX

Learn Conversational Arabic PLAYLIST:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEvKHjeZ8kaF7sZmGPcGhYxZFMuNWWnfl


Wonna learn colloquial or spoken Lebanese Levantine Arabic dialect? Check out my other channel, a starter video:

https://youtu.be/-qAlqguVK4Q





0 comments
bottom of page