Arabic

Article

اَل • ‎(al-)

1. the

Usage notes

The /l/ of this prefix assimilates to and geminates the first letter of the following word when it begins with one of the sun letters: ت ‎(t), ث ‎(ṯ), د ‎(d), ذ ‎(ḏ), ر ‎(r), ز ‎(z), س ‎(s), ش ‎(š), ص ‎(ṣ), ض ‎(ḍ), ط ‎(ṭ), ظ ‎(ẓ), ل ‎(l), ن ‎(n), and dialectally ج ‎(j) when pronounced /ʒ/. This is strictly a pronunciation change; the spelling with ل ‎(l) is unchanged, except that in fully vocalized texts a shadda may be written over the sun letter to reflect gemination.

See also

• moon letter
• sun letter

Descendants

• Egyptian Arabic: ال ‎(el)
• Maltese: il

Noun

اِلّ • ‎(ill) m

1. pact, covenant
2. consanguinity, blood relationship

Declension

Egyptian Arabic

Article

الـ • ‎(el-)

1. the

Ottoman Turkish

Noun

ال • ‎(el)

1. hand