Tanween means "nunation" — adding an "n" sound to the end of a word. It is written as double vowel marks and appears only at the end of words. Tanween indicates that a word is indefinite (like "a book" rather than "the book" in English).

The Three Types of Tanween

بً

Tanween Fath — ً

Double fatha above the letter — "an" sound

"an" — like "an" at end of word. Often written with extra alif: كِتَابًا

Double fatha + alif = "an" ending. Example: كِتَابًا = Kitaaban

كِتَابًا Kitaaban — A book (accusative) رَجُلًا Rajulan — A man عَمَلًا Amalan — A deed يَوْمًا Yawman — A day نُورًا Noooran — A light شَيْئًا Shay-an — A thing حُكْمًا Hukman — A ruling خَيْرًا Khayran — A good thing أَجْرًا Ajran — A reward ذِكْرًا Dhikran — A remembrance

بٍ

Tanween Kasr — ٍ

Double kasra below the letter — "in" sound

"in" — short i + n at end of word

Two kasra marks below = "in" ending. Genitive case in Arabic grammar.

بِسْمِ اللهِ Bismillaahi — Note: مِ has kasra (part of tanween context) رَجُلٍ Rajulin — Of a man كِتَابٍ Kitaabin — Of a book يَوْمٍ Yawmin — Of a day نُورٍ Noorin — Of a light مَاءٍ Maain — Of water خَيْرٍ Khayrin — Of good عِلْمٍ Ilmin — Of knowledge أَجْرٍ Ajrin — Of reward حَقٍّ Haqqin — Of truth

بٌ

Tanween Damm — ٌ

Double damma above the letter — "un" sound

"un" — short u + n at end of word

Two small waw-shapes above = "un" ending. Nominative (subject) case.

كِتَابٌ Kitaabun — A book (subject) رَجُلٌ Rajulun — A man بَيْتٌ Baytun — A house نَبِيٌّ Nabiyyun — A prophet رَسُولٌ Rasoolun — A messenger مُسْلِمٌ Muslimun — A Muslim عَبْدٌ Abdun — A servant عَالِمٌ Aalimun — A scholar صَالِحٌ Saalihun — A righteous one حَكِيمٌ Hakeemun — A wise one

Tanween and Waqf (Stopping)

When you stop (waqf) on a word with tanween fath (ً), pronounce it as a long "aa" sound. Example: كِتَابًا when stopping = "Kitaabaaa". For tanween kasr (ٍ) and damm (ٌ), when stopping, drop the "n" sound entirely.

Long Vowels — Madd Letters (Alif, Waw, Ya)

Next Chapter

Sukoon — Letters with No Vowel

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Tanween — Double Vowel Endings