Hamza (ء) is one of the most written-about letters in Arabic grammar , and one of the most misused. Its written form changes depending on where it appears and what vowels surround it. This guide breaks every case down into clear, actionable rules.
Part 1: Hamzat al-Wasl (همزة الوصل)
Hamzat al-wasl is pronounced at the start of an utterance but drops completely when the word connects to the previous one. Always written as a bare alef (ا) with no mark.
| Word | In isolation | Connected |
|---|---|---|
| اسم | اِسم (pronounced) | باسم (dropped) |
| اكتب | اُكتُب (pronounced) | واكتُب (dropped) |
| الكتاب | اَلكتاب (pronounced) | في الكتاب (dropped) |
Part 2: Hamzat al-Qat' (همزة القطع)
Hamzat al-qat' is always pronounced. Written with a mark , above the alef (أ) for fatha/damma, below the alef (إ) for kasra.
| Word | Form | Why |
|---|---|---|
| أكل | أ (above) | Four-letter verb, fatha |
| إنسان | إ (below) | Noun, kasra |
| أُستاذ | أ (above) | Noun, damma |
Part 3: Medial Hamza (الهمزة المتوسطة)
The seat is determined by vowel strength: kasra > damma > fatha > sukun. Choose the seat matching the strongest vowel.
| Strongest Vowel | Seat | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kasra | ئ (on yaa) | سُئِل، رئيس |
| Damma | ؤ (on waw) | سُؤال، مؤمن |
| Fatha | أ (on alef) | سأل، رأس |
| Sukun | ء (standalone) | مسألة |
Part 4: Final Hamza (الهمزة المتطرفة)
At word end, the seat depends on the vowel of the preceding letter:
| Preceding vowel | Form | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Kasra | ئ | شاطئ، قارئ |
| Damma | ؤ | تكافؤ، لؤلؤ |
| Fatha | أ | يقرأ، يبدأ |
| Sukun | ء | جزء، بطء، دفء |
Common Mistakes Summary
| Error | Correct | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| إسم | اسم | Wasl, not qat' |
| اعطى | أعطى | Qat' on four-letter verb |
| سوال | سؤال | Medial , waw seat (damma) |
| قاري | قارئ | Final , yaa seat (kasra) |
| جزأ | جزء | Final , standalone after sukun |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hamzat al-wasl?
A hamza pronounced only at utterance start, dropped mid-sentence. Written as a bare alef (ا) with no mark.
When does medial hamza sit on a waw (ؤ)?
When the dominant vowel is a damma , no kasra is present in the immediate environment.
What is the rule for final hamza?
The seat matches the vowel of the letter before it: kasra → ئ, damma → ؤ, fatha → أ, sukun → ء.