The Arabic alphabet has 28 letters, all representing consonants, and is written from right to left. The alphabet is descended from the Nabataean alphabet, which was used to write the Nabataean dialect of Aramaic. The first known text in the Arabic alphabet was a late 4th-century inscription from Jabal Ramm (50 km east of 'Aqabah) in Jordan.
The Arabic alphabet is an abjad, meaning it typically omits short vowels except for specific purposes. In standard Arabic, the vowel marks are mandatory, although they are often omitted in everyday speech or informal writing. The letters alif, wāw and yāʾ, can represent vowels, depending on their position in a word:
A- Alef: This letter is silent.
B- Baa'a: Makes the "b" sound like in "boy."
T- Taa'a: Makes the "t" sound like in "tea."
Th- Thaa'a: Makes the "th" sound like in "thin."
J- Jeem: Makes the "j" sound like in "jam."
H- Haa'a: Makes the "h" sound like in "hat."
Kh- Khaa'a: Makes the "kh" sound like in "loch."
D- Daal: Makes the "d" sound like in "door."
Dh- Dhaal: Makes the "dh" sound like in "there."
R- Ra'a: Makes the "r" sound like in "car."
Z- Zaa'a: Makes the "z" sound like in "zoo."
S- Seen: Makes the "s" sound like in "sun."
Sh- Sheen: Makes the "sh" sound like in "sheep."
S- Saad: Makes the "s" sound like in "sand."
D- Daad: Makes the "d" sound like in "ladder."
T- Taa'a: Makes the "t" sound like in "table."
Z- Zaa'a: Makes the "z" sound like in "azure."
A- Ayn: This letter is silent.
Gh- Ghayn: Makes the "gh" sound like in "ghetto."
F- Fa'a: Makes the "f" sound like in "fat."
Q- Qaaf: Makes the "q" sound like in "coat."
K- Kaaf: Makes the "k" sound like in "skill."
L- Laam: Makes the "l" sound like in "lantern."
M- Meem: Makes the "m" sound like in "map."
N- Noo'n: Makes the "n" sound like in "noon."
H- Heem: Makes the "h" sound like in "hum."
W- Waw: Makes the "w" sound like in "way."
Y- Yaa'a: Makes the long "ee" sound like in "sheep," or makes the short "i" sound like in "bit."