This detailed guide focuses on the Arabic letter: و {wạw}.

This video provides easy tips and techniques to master writing and pronouncing Arabic letters.

Timestamp:

00:00 Intro to the letter و {wạw}
00:10 How to write the Arabic letter و {wạw}
00:25 How to pronounce the Arabic letter و {wạw}?
00:43 The different forms of writing the letter و {wạw} according to its positions.
01:53 How to pronounce the Arabic letter و {wạw} with harakat (Arabic vowles); Shaddah, damma, kassrah, tanween, sukoun, mad?
02:53 Play and learn: Let’s practice how to pronounce the letter و {wạw}.

The Arabic letter و (wāw) usually represents the /w/ sound, like the ‘w’ in ‘water’ or ‘window’. It can also represent the long vowel /ū/, similar to the ‘oo’ in ‘moon’ or ‘food’.

The letter و is one of the easiest Arabic letters to recognize because it has a simple curved shape and does not connect to the letter that follows it.

Basic Information

• Letter Name: و (Wāw)
• Arabic Name: وَاو
• Transliteration: w
• IPA Pronunciation:
  • /w/ as a consonant
  • /uː/ as a long vowel
• English Approximation:
  • w in water (consonant)
  • oo in moon (long vowel)

How to Write the Letter و

Unlike many Arabic letters, و has only two writing forms because it never connects to the following letter.

Unlike letters such as ب, م, or س, و has no initial or medial forms because it cannot connect to the letter after it.

Writing Steps

1. Start slightly above the writing line.
2. Draw a short curve downward.
3. Finish with a rounded hook pointing left.

The letter is written in one continuous stroke.

Pronouncing the Letter و as a Consonant

When functioning as a consonant, و sounds exactly like the English w.

Examples:

• water
• window
• welcome
• west

Your lips should:

• Round slightly.
• Move smoothly into the following vowel.
• Avoid adding an extra vowel before the sound.

Correct pronunciation:

wa, wi, wu

Examples in Arabic:

• ولد (walad) — boy
• وردة (wardah) — flower
• وجه (wajh) — face
• واحد (wāḥid) — one

Pronouncing و as a Long Vowel

One of the most important uses of و is representing the long vowel /ū/.

This sound is similar to:

• moon
• food
• school
• blue

Examples:

• نور (nūr) — light
• سوق (sūq) — market
• يقول (yaqūl) — he says
• وجود (wujūd) — existence

Notice that the vowel is held slightly longer than a normal short vowel.

Short Vowel vs. Long Vowel

Arabic distinguishes between short and long vowels.

Examples:

• كُتُب (kutub) — books
• نور (nūr) — light

The first contains only short vowels.

The second contains a long ū written with و.

Letter Forms in Words

Although و has only two written forms, it appears in many positions within words.

At the beginning

• ولد (walad)
• ورقة (waraqah)
• وقت (waqt)

In the middle

• سوق (sūq)
• نور (nūr)
• وجود (wujūd)

At the end

• يدعو (yadʿū)
• أبو (abū)
• هو (huwa)

Remember that even in the middle of a word, و breaks the connection with the next letter.

Similar Letters

Students sometimes confuse و with these letters.

Common Beginner Mistakes

1. Pronouncing it like the English letter “V”

Incorrect:

v

Correct:

w

2. Making the long vowel too short

Incorrect:

nur

Correct:

nūr

3. Connecting it to the next letter

Incorrect:

Writing و connected to the following letter.

Correct:

و always disconnects from the next letter.

4. Adding an extra vowel

Incorrect:

uwa

Correct:

wa

Practice Words

Read these words aloud several times.

Writing Practice

Practice writing the letter several times.

و   و   و   و   و

ـو   ـو   ـو   ـو   ـو

Then practice writing complete words:

ولد
وردة
نور
واحد
سوق
وجود
هو

Quick Review

• و is the 27th letter of the Arabic alphabet.
• It is called Wāw (وَاو).
• As a consonant, it sounds like the English w in water.
• As a vowel, it represents the long sound ū, like oo in moon.
• It has only two written forms: و and ـو.
• و never connects to the following letter.
• It is one of the most common letters in Modern Standard Arabic, serving as both a consonant and a long vowel.