To read a word, start on the right. Say each letter with its vowel mark. Then blend the sounds together, a little faster each time.
قَلَمqalam: pencilجَمَلjamal: camelوَلَدwalad: boy
Fatha, fatha, then stop
In qalam, qaf and lam each have a fatha. Meem at the end has no mark, so just say m. Qa, la, m makes qalam. Jamal and walad work the same way.
بَاب
Long a with alif
A fatha then an alif makes a long a. Ba with a fatha and alif says baa. Add one more ba and you get bab. It means door.
1كِ1 ki
2تَا2 taa
3ب3 b
Read in parts
Kitab means book. Read it in three parts: ki, then taa, then b. Put them together and say kitab.
قِطَّةqittacat
Say it twice
Qitta means cat. Look at the small w shape on taa. It is called a shadda. It means say the letter twice: qit, then ta.
For parents
Goal: Your child reads short Arabic words by putting letters and vowel marks together.
Ask your child to start on the right and say one sound at a time, then say them again faster.
A small line on top says a, a line below says i, a curl on top says u, and a small circle means stop.
Ask: what does the word mean? Reading the sound is the first step. Knowing the meaning is the second.
Away from the screen: Copy bab from the cards onto paper and tape it to a door. Put qalam next to a pencil. Ask your child to read each word and touch the real thing.