This cheat sheet covers the Arabic alphabet, basic numbers, common greetings, and the direction used for reading and writing Arabic. Students need a quick reference because Arabic letters change shape depending on where they appear in a word. The sheet also supports pronunciation by connecting letters, vowel marks, and everyday phrases.
It is designed for grades 6-12 as a clear study tool for beginners and review learners.
Key Facts
- Arabic is read and written from right to left, but Arabic numerals in many contexts are read from left to right within the sentence.
- The Arabic alphabet has 28 main letters, and most letters have isolated, initial, medial, and final forms.
- Short vowels are written as marks: fatha = a, kasra = i, and damma = u.
- Sukun means a consonant has no following vowel, and shadda means the consonant sound is doubled.
- Six letters do not connect to the following letter: ا, د, ذ, ر, ز, and و.
- The numbers 0 to 10 in Arabic-Indic numerals are ٠, ١, ٢, ٣, ٤, ٥, ٦, ٧, ٨, ٩, ١٠.
- A common formal greeting is السلام عليكم, which means peace be upon you.
- The usual reply to السلام عليكم is وعليكم السلام, which means and peace be upon you.
Vocabulary
- Alphabet
- An alphabet is a set of letters used to write the sounds of a language.
- Letter form
- A letter form is the shape a letter takes when it is isolated, at the beginning, in the middle, or at the end of a word.
- Short vowel
- A short vowel is a small mark written above or below a letter to show a brief vowel sound.
- Sukun
- Sukun is a mark that shows a consonant is not followed by a vowel sound.
- Shadda
- Shadda is a mark that shows a consonant sound is doubled or held slightly longer.
- Greeting
- A greeting is a polite word or phrase used when meeting someone or starting a conversation.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Reading Arabic from left to right is wrong because Arabic words and sentences are normally read from right to left.
- Using only the isolated form of each letter is wrong because most Arabic letters change shape when joined in words.
- Connecting every letter to the next letter is wrong because ا, د, ذ, ر, ز, and و do not connect to the following letter.
- Ignoring short vowel marks can change pronunciation because fatha, kasra, and damma show important vowel sounds.
- Confusing السلام عليكم with its reply is a common mistake because السلام عليكم starts the greeting and وعليكم السلام answers it.
Practice Questions
- 1 Write the Arabic-Indic numerals for 3, 7, and 10.
- 2 How many main letters are in the Arabic alphabet, and how many common letters do not connect to the following letter?
- 3 Match each short vowel mark to its sound: fatha, kasra, damma.
- 4 Explain why learning letter forms is important before trying to read full Arabic words.
Understanding Alphabet, Numbers & Greetings
Arabic writing is built around connected strokes rather than separate printed characters. A word often looks like one flowing unit, yet each letter still has its own place and sound. The position of a letter changes its shape because it must join smoothly with what comes before or after it.
Think of handwriting in English, where joined letters can look different from printed ones. In Arabic, this change is part of the normal writing system. When reading a new word, first find its letters from the right side.
Then notice where connections stop. A break inside a word is not necessarily a space or a mistake. It may be caused by a letter that joins only to the letter before it.
Vowel marks are especially important for beginners because they show how a word is pronounced. In many everyday books, signs, and messages, short vowel marks are left out. Skilled readers use the surrounding words and their knowledge of the language to supply the missing sounds.
Learners should begin with fully marked words whenever possible. This builds a reliable link between a written letter and its sound. The small marks can completely change a syllable, so do not treat them as decoration.
A doubled consonant needs extra attention. It is heard as two parts, with the first part closing one syllable and the second beginning the next. A consonant marked with sukun ends without a vowel sound after it.
Arabic text can include more than one direction at once. The words move across the page from right to left, while dates, phone numbers, web addresses, and calculations may follow a different visual order. This can feel confusing at first, especially on forms or in textbooks.
Follow the language around each item rather than relying only on where it sits on the line. When copying Arabic, begin at the right margin and leave enough room for letters that extend below or above the main line. Dots matter just as much as the body of a letter.
Several letters share a similar basic shape, and the number or position of dots tells them apart. A missed dot can create a different letter.
Greetings teach more than vocabulary. They show how language changes with setting, relationship, and politeness. A formal greeting may be used at school, in a shop, when meeting adults, or when speaking to someone for the first time.
The expected reply is part of the exchange, so learning a greeting as a pair helps it sound natural. Listen carefully to speakers when possible. Arabic is spoken in many regions, and local speech can differ from the formal Arabic used in school materials.
Do not expect every spoken word to match its carefully written form exactly. Build skill through short daily practice. Read a few connected words, say them aloud, copy them slowly, then check every dot, connection, and vowel mark.