The Arabic letter و (wāw) is the 27th letter of the Arabic alphabet, functioning as both a consonant and a long vowel. As a consonant, it produces the /w/ sound, similar to the ‘w’ in “water.” Conversely, as a vowel, it represents the long /ū/ sound, much like the ‘oo’ in “moon.”
How to Write the Letter و
The letter و is unique among Arabic letters because it does not connect to the letter that follows it. Instead, it only connects to the preceding letter.
| Position | Form |
|---|---|
| Isolated | و |
| Initial | و |
| Medial | ـو |
| Final | ـو |
Writing Steps
- Start near the top.
- Draw a short downward curve.
- Continue into a rounded hook toward the left.
- Lift your pen—و has no dots.
How to Pronounce و
1. As a Consonant (/w/)
First, pronounce و like the English ‘w’.
Examples:
- ولد (walad) — boy
- وردة (wardah) — rose
- وجه (wajh) — face
2. As a Long Vowel (/ū/)
When preceded by the ḍammah (ـُ), و becomes the long vowel ū.
Examples:
- نور (nūr) — light
- سوق (sūq) — market
- يقول (yaqūl) — he says
Practice Words
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ورد | ward | flowers |
| وطن | waṭan | homeland |
| وقت | waqt | time |
| نور | nūr | light |
| يوم | yawm | day |
| وجبة | wajbah | meal |
Common Mistakes
- Confusing و with long “oo” in every word. Remember that و sometimes represents w and sometimes ū.
- Trying to connect و to the next letter. It never connects to the letter after it.
- Pronouncing it like the English letter “v.” Standard Arabic و is always /w/, not /v/.
Practice Sentences
- هذا ولد.
Hādhā walad.
This is a boy. - النور جميل.
An-nūru jamīl.
The light is beautiful. - ذهبت إلى السوق.
Dhahabtu ilā as-sūq.
I went to the market.
Writing Practice
Practice writing the letter several times:
و و و و و
Then combine it with other letters:
بو – تو – سو – مو – نو – كو
Finally, write complete words:
ولد – ورد – وطن – نور – سوق
Quick Summary
- Letter: و (Wāw)
- Position in the alphabet: 27th
- Sound as a consonant: /w/ as in water
- Sound as a vowel: /ū/ as in moon
- Dots: None
- Connects to the next letter? No
- Common use: Consonant w and long vowel ū
With regular reading and writing practice, you’ll quickly learn to recognise when و is acting as a consonant and when it represents the long vowel ū, making it one of the most useful letters in the Arabic alphabet.
