How to Write Arabic Script: A Beginner’s Guide

Arabic script developed rapidly after the rise of Islam, becoming a writing system and an art form. Reading and writing Arabic also plays a central role in Islam. It became the language of Islam and played a central role in the religion. 

The Arabic script is the writing system for Arabic and other Asian and African languages. It is the second alphabetic writing system that people use in the world.

Introduction to Arabic Script

The versatility of Arabic script can be attributed to the fact that it is a phonetic language. Its alphabet consists of 28 letters (three of which are long vowels) that people can adapt easily from other languages. 

Similar to English and Spanish, which share the Roman alphabet, the Ottoman Turks adopted the Arabic alphabet by adding diacritics, such as italics and dashes above and below letters, to distinguish vowels and double consonants. Another characteristic of Arabic letters is that they change shape slightly depending on their position in a word: initial, middle, or final.

 Arabic, which people write only in cursive and traditionally, has no capital letters. Each letter of the alphabet is related to a numerical number based on the 28 lunar stations. Because of its religious importance, Arabic writing played an important role as decoration. 

Here are some basic features of the Arabic Script system: 

  • The Arabic alphabet contains 28 letters. 
  • People write Arabic from right to left. In Arabic, it is not usual to write short vowels. 
  • The Arabic letters change shape according to their position in Arabic script. 

Basic Arabic Letters and Forms

Arabic letter forms
Arabic letter forms

 Reading and writing Arabic using the Arabic alphabet is not as difficult as it seems. This can be difficult for English speakers because of the unfamiliar Arabic characters and properties. But here’s the good news: it’s a phonetic language, so you should follow pronunciation rules. 

After all, learning to read Arabic just means you have to learn certain habits that are second nature to English speakers. For example: Arabic script is written and read from right to left. Arabic letters consist of a series of strokes and you write them in a cursive style. Arabic letters change shape according to their placement in a word. 

The Arabic alphabet, called Al-abjadiyah, has 28 letters. All 28 letters are consonants and most of them have four different forms. Some Arabic letters do not have a direct equivalent in French, which makes it difficult to learn for English speakers. 

  • For example, ض (Dhad) is a letter people use in Arabic. It does not exist in other languages. Thanks to this popular letter, Arabic is sometimes called “the language of Dhad”. But don’t let that discourage you! With instruction and practice, you can learn to pronounce Arabic well enough to communicate and understand.
  • This means that the Arabic alphabet contains only two more letters than the French alphabet (26 letters). However, unlike French, people pronounce them in the same way. In English, the letter “c” is sometimes pronounced as “s” (cesar)and sometimes as “k” (cucumber). 
  • Or, to take another example, “gh” is sometimes pronounced as “f” (enough) and sometimes as “g” (ghost). In Arabic, letters always keep their sound. Arabic script is mostly a cursive script, like handwritten English. In other words, almost all the letters in a word are linked together. This requires some modification in its form. 

Writing Arabic Words: Step-by-Step

How to learn to write in Arabic? Learning to write in Arabic can be a difficult but rewarding experience. Here are the steps to follow:

  •  Familiarize yourself with the Arabic alphabet: Before starting to write, you must familiarize yourself with the Arabic alphabet. There are 28 letters in the Arabic alphabet, and each has a unique shape and sound.
  •  Get an Arabic keyboard: To write in Arabic on the computer, you need to buy an Arabic keyboard and can buy an Arabic keyboard or change the language settings of your computer to Arabic.
  •  Install Arabic language support: Make sure your computer supports the Arabic script. You may need to install additional software for language support.
  • Practice typing: Practice typing letters on the Arabic keyboard until you can type without looking at the keyboard. Start by writing simple words and sentences. 
  • Learn to write Arabic words: Once you are comfortable with the Arabic alphabet, start writing Arabic words. Start with simple words and gradually move to more complex words.
  •  Use Online Resources: There are many online resources to help you learn to write in Arabic. Use it to your advantage to learn new skills and improve your typing speed

 Practice

The key to being perfect with any skill is practice. The more you practice writing Arabic, the more proficient you will become. Find a private tutor: If there is trouble in writing in Arabic, consider finding a private tutor who can help. They can offer advice and support to help people improve their skills. 

After taking an Arabic course with eArabiclearning Academy, You might consider putting what you’ve learned into practice by writing an email to an Arabic friend. You know the words and phrases and know how to write “Marhaba” and “Salam” and everything in between, but you haven’t learned how to write Arabic on your computer or mobile. 

Practice exercises

Practice is the best way to perfect your Arabic writing.
Practice is the best way to perfect your Arabic writing.

 Practice is the best way to perfect your Arabic writing. Make writing Arabic script a daily activity with correct vowels, spelling, and grammar. Practice will help you to write faster and easier. To help you type faster in Arabic, use the following hand placement on the keyboard to reach the letter faster. Keyboard training. 

Another way to practice is to focus on two letters and gradually learn to find and write quickly. The Islamic Partnership’s online learning tool for Arabic writing will help you solve this problem in the simplest possible way.

Tips to use when writing Arabic script for the first time 

Now you are ready to start writing your first text, email, essay, or whatever want. However, here are some additional tips to keep in mind when writing in Arabic for the first time:

  •  Be sure to write from right to left. Writing Arabic from left to right is incorrect and will look strange when people write it.
  •  Don’t worry if you make spelling mistakes or replace letters. It happens to everyone.
  •  Use the word bank to select the word you want to write if you think you can’t find anything to write on the blank page. 
  • First, learn to write the letters correctly.
  • Then practice with the vowels so you don’t get lost. Learn to distinguish between the two “Yaa” displayed on the keyboard. The “ى” of the N key is the one pronounced with the “aa” sound. While “ي” on the D key; there are two dots below, pronounced with the “ee” sound.