The letter baa ب is the second letter of Arabic alphabets. Here you will learn how to pronounce baa ب and how to write baa ب . You will also learn the different shapes of letter baa ب with examples.
Equivalent of letter baa ب in English
The letter baa ب equivalent in English is letter B. It has “b” phonics.
It is unique in it self as it has one dot under it.
As in Arabic letters dots n position of dot is very important as it can make big difference. You will learn it more in later posts as you will learn other Arabic letters.
How to pronounce baa ب
How to write letter baa ب
Different shapes of baa ب
| final | middle | starting | isolated |
| ـب | ـبـ | بـ | ب |
Examples of ba ب in isolated shape:
بَاب (Bab) – Door
كِتَاب (kitab) – Book
َشَرب (sharab) – Drink
Examples of ba بـ in starting shape:
بَشّر (bashar) – Human
بَقَر (bakar) – Cow
بَارِد (Barid) – Cold
Examples of ba ـبـ in middle shape:
عَصَبَة (‘asabah) – League, association
رُكْبَة (rukba) – Knee
نَبَات (nabat) – Plant
Examples of ba ـب in final shape:
كَتَبَ (kataba) – He wrote
كُتُب (Kutub) – Books
تَحَبُّب (Tahabbub) – Falling in love
Articulation Point of ba ب
Letter baa ب is pronounced by closing lips together strongly.
Letter “p” in Arabic:
Arabic does not has letter equivalent to ‘P‘ so Arab use ‘B‘ instead of ‘P’ like for word “Pakistan” Arab say “باكستان“
Ba ب is a moon letter
The distinction of “sun letters” (حروف الشمس) and “moon letters” (حروف القمر) is fundamental in determining the pronunciation of the definite article “ال” (al) when it precedes certain consonants in Arabic.
When the definite article “ال” is added to a word starting with a sun letter, a seamless assimilation occurs. For example, “الشمس” (ash-shams) means “the sun,” with the “l” sound smoothly blending into the following “sh.”
When the definite article “ال” is applied to words starting with moon letters, the “l” sound remains distinct. For instance, “القمر” (al-qamar) signifies “the moon,” with the “l” sound clearly separate from the following “q.”
Arabic speakers naturally apply these rules in everyday language. The distinction is evident in phrases such as “البيت” (al-bayt) for “the house”
So baa “ب“ is a moon letter
The letter “ب” (tha) in Arabic is indeed a moon letter. When the definite article “ال” (al) is prefixed to a word beginning with ” ب,” assimilation does not occurs, and the “l” sound of “al” does not combines with the “b” sound of “ب.”
Examples of baa as moon letter:
- البَيْتُ (al-baytu) – The house
- البَحْرُ (al-bahru) – The sea
- البَنَانُ (al-bananu) – The banana
- البُرْجُ (al-burju) – The tower
- البَلَدُ (al-baldu) – The country
- البَيْضَاءُ (al-bayda’u) – The white (feminine)
- البَسْمَةُ (al-basmatu) – The smile
- البَارِدُ (al-baridu) – The cold
- البَقَرَةُ (al-baqaratu) – The cow
- البَسْمَلَةُ (al-basmala) – The phrase “In the name of Allah.”
Characteristics of letter baa ب
The traits of the letters set them apart from other letters that have the same articulation point.
The proper use of the letter characteristics clarifies the letters and explains the different timings of the saakin letters, which is a crucial concept.
It is evident from examining the qualities which letters have strong and weak makeup. This indicates that examining the qualities of the letters and how they are used is a crucial component.
Letters can be categorized according to what sets them apart:
- Contrasting Characteristics in Letters (الصِفَاتُ المُتَضادَة): These letters have different qualities.
- Letters with Distinctive Qualities: These lack diametrically opposed elements.
Characteristics of Arabic Letters with Contrasting Attributes (الصِفَاتُ المُتَضادَة)
Arabic letter baa ب has following Contrasting Attributes :
| LETTERS | 1. Al Hams – الْهَمْسُ / al Jahr – الجَهْرُ | 2. Ash-shidda – الشِّدَّةُ/al baynya – البَينية/ ar Rakhawa – الرَّخَاوَةُ | 3. Al-istiala – الاِسْتِعَلاءُ / al-istifal – الاسْتِفَالُ | 4. Al-itbaq الإِطْبَاق /. Al infitah الإِنْفِتَاح | 5. Al-idhlaq الإِذْلاقُ /. Al ismat الإِصْمَات |
| baa ب | al Jahr – الجَهْرُ | Ash-shidda – الشِّدَّةُ | al-istifal – الاسْتِفَالُ | Al infitah الإِنْفِتَاح | Al-idhlaq الإِذْلاقُ |
Characteristics of Arabic Letters with Distinctive Attributes (الصِفَات غَيْر المُتَضادَة)
Arabic letter baa ب has following Distinctive Attributes :
| 1. As-Safeer (الصَفِير) | 2. Al-Qalqala (القَلْقَلَة) | 3. Al-leen – اللِّيْن | 4. Al inhiraf – الإِنْحِراف | 5. At-takreer – التَّكْرِير | 6. At tafashee – التَّفَشِي | 7. Al istitala – الإِسْتِطَالَة | 8. Al gunna – غُنّه |
| ————- | yes | ———— | ———— | ———— | ———— | ————– | ———— |
Complete letters: