ال (al-) and solar/lunar letter assimilation rules
Can use ال correctly with solar and lunar letters
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
الكِتاب
the book
الشَّمْس
the sun
القَمَر
the moon
النّاس
the people
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Arabic has ONE definite article: ال (al-), equivalent to English 'the'. It prefixes directly to nouns.
Solar letters (الحروف الشمسية): ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن — the ل assimilates: الشَّمْس = ash-shams (not al-shams).
Lunar letters (الحروف القمرية): ا ب ج ح خ ع غ ف ق ك م ه و ي — ل is pronounced: القَمَر = al-qamar.
Rule: Solar letters are made with the tongue near the teeth/roof — where ل is also made, so it assimilates. No indefinite article exists — absence of ال = indefinite (+ tanwīn in formal Arabic).
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesFailed to assimilate ل before a solar letter
Memorize the 14 solar letters or remember: if the tongue touches the teeth/palate to start the letter, ل assimilates
Used ال when indefinite was needed or vice versa
ال = the (specific). No article + tanwīn = a/an (general)
الكِتاب
the book
al-kitāb — ك is a lunar letter, so ل is fully pronounced.
الشَّمْس
the sun
ash-shams (NOT al-shams) — ش is solar, ل assimilates and ش doubles.
القَمَر
the moon
al-qamar — ق is lunar, ل stays. The word 'lunar' comes from قمر!
النّاس
the people
an-nās (NOT al-nās) — ن is solar, ل assimilates to ن.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises