Sukun (ْ) - no vowel

Most Arabic letters carry a short vowel. You already know the basics: Fatha (a), Kasra (i), and Damma (u). These marks make sounds like "ba", "bi", or "bu". But what if you just want the "b" sound by itself? That is where the Sukun shines. It is a placeholder for nothingness. It connects two letters into one smooth, crisp syllable. Imagine the English word "Bank". The "n" doesn't have a vowel sound immediately after it before you hit the "k". In Arabic script, that "n" would wear a Sukun. It bridges the gap between sounds. It allows you to close a syllable. Without it, Arabic would sound like a never-ending string of vowels, which might be fun for a song but confusing for a conversation.

1. 1Identify the letter that needs to be vowel-free.
2. 2Ensure this letter is not at the very beginning of the word.
3. 3Draw a small, clean circle ْ directly above that letter.
4. 4Keep the circle small so it does not look like the letter MIM or a zero.
5. 5When speaking, pronounce the letter's base sound (e.g., "m" instead of "ma").
6. 6Stop your breath and tongue movement immediately after the sound.
7. 7Transition directly to the next letter if there is one.

You will see the Sukun everywhere in daily life. Use it in the middle of words to create compound sounds. It helps you jump from one syllable to the next without stumbling. For example, when you are ordering Qahwa (Coffee), the h sound in the middle has a Sukun. It is not Qahawa. It is Qah-wa. You also use it at the ends of words during natural speech. Many Arabic words end in a "resting" state. When you say Shukran (Thank you), the final n is a resting point. In a job interview, if you say Ana min... (I am from...), the n in min is a perfect Sukun moment. It provides a clean, professional finish to your words.

Never start a word with a Sukun. Arabic is a rhythmic, energetic language. It needs a "kickstart" vowel to get the engine running. You cannot have two Sukun marks in a row easily. That would be like trying to run with your shoelaces tied together; your tongue will literally get stuck. If you see a word ending in a long vowel (like aa, uu, or ii), you don't need a Sukun there. The long vowel already does the work. Also, in very informal texting, people might leave it out. Don't let that trick you! It is still there in spirit, even if it's invisible.

The "Ghost Vowel" is the biggest enemy of the beginner. You might accidentally add a tiny "uh" sound where it doesn't belong. Instead of saying ab, you might say ab-uh. Keep your tongue still! Don't let it bounce. Another mistake is drawing the circle too large. If it looks like a big O, it might be mistaken for a digit or another letter. It is a crumb, not a cookie. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are writing fast, but for now, keep yours neat. Finally, don't confuse Sukun with Damma. A Damma has a little tail; a Sukun is just a ring.

Compare the Sukun to the Shadda. A Shadda ّ tells you to double the letter and hold it longer. A Sukun just tells you to stop. Think of Sukun as a red light and Fatha as a green light. The Shadda is more like hitting the brakes and then immediately hitting the gas again. Also, distinguish it from the Tanween. Tanween adds an "n" sound at the end of a word, while Sukun is the absence of any extra sound. It is the simplest mark in the toolkit, but it does the heavy lifting for word structure.