-An Introduction to Arabic alphabet

Arabic script (Abjad) comprises 28 letters (all consonants) and is written from right to left on a horizontal line. There is no distinction between capitals and small letters. Punctuation is similar to English.





Each letter in the Arabic alphabet can have as many as four different forms depending on the position of the letter in a word. There are independent, initial, medial and final forms.

Initial: at the beginning of a word; or in the middle of a word, after a non-connecting letter. Medial: between two connecting letters (non-connecting letters lack a medial form). Final: at the end of a word following a connecting letter. Isolated: at the end of a word following a non-connecting letter; or used independently.