INTRODUCTION

There is another special type of izaafat, called ‘alif-laam’ (Devanagri: अलिफ़ लाम | IPA:  /əlɪf laːm/ | Pronunciation:  ) which is a combination of the letters ‘alif’ and ‘laam’ as the name suggests.

This is used only in words of Arabic origin and is used in a few different ways depending upon its position in a word and the letters it connects with.

Here’s an illustration of the ‘alif-laam’ izaafat, which essentially looks like the word “al” (अल):

Above: The izaafat ‘alif-laam’. Written the same way as the word “al”.

24.1: ‘alif-laam’ as the word ‘the’

RULE

‘alif-laam’appearing at the beginning of a word, implies the equivalent of the word “the” and simply lends the sound of “al” (अल).

For example, in the compound “al kariim” (अल करीम) the word “kariim” (करीम), in general, means “bountiful/gracious/merciful”. However, the addition of the “al” emphasizes its importance making it mean “The Merciful” and therefore, a reference to God.

Here’s a simple break-down illustrating this:

Above: ‘alif-laam’ + “kariim” = “al kariim”. Notice how the ‘alif-laam’ takes upon the meaning of the word “the”.

Let’s take a look at another such compund - “al haq” (अल हक़). Here, the word “haq” (हक़), in general, means “truth/true”. The addition of the “al” emphasizes it and makes it mean “The Truth”, which is another metaphorical reference to God.

Above: ‘alif-laam’ + “haq” = “al haq”

24.2: ‘alif-laam’ as the word “of”

RULE

‘alif-laam’appearing in the middle of two words as a connector, implies the equivalent of the word “of” and denotes possession while lending the sound of “ul” (उल) between the two words.

For example, in the compound “rasm-ul-KHat” (रस्म-उल-ख़त), meaning “way of writing” literally, or more particularly “script”, the ‘alif-laam’ acts as a connector between the words “rasm” (रस्म), meaning “way/custom/ritual” and “KHat” (ख़त) meaning “writing”. The ‘alif-laam’ here lends the sound of ‘ul’ between the two words.

Here’s a break-down illustrating this:

Above: “rasm” + ‘alif-laam’ + “KHat” = “rasm-ul-KHat”. ‘alif-laam’ facilitates conjunction here.

Here’s another such conjunct - “malik-ul-hind” (मलिक-उल-हिन्द), meaning “King of Hind(ostaan)” or “the King of India”. The ‘alif-laam’ connects the words “malik” (मलिक), meaning “master/king” and “hind” (हिन्द) refers to “Hindostaan/India”.

Here’s a break-down illustrating this:

Above: “malik” + ‘alif-laam’ + “hind” = “malik-ul-hind”

NOTE

In the examples shown above, note that the ‘alif’ of the ‘alif-laam’ follows the connectors ‘meem’ and ‘kaaf’ respectively. Yet, it is written separately in an isolated position. The ‘laam’ however, does connect with the following letter. 

This is the way such words with the ‘alif-laam’ are written.

24.3: Moon Letters

Now that we’ve dealt with the basics, let’s get to know about something called the “Moon Letters” in Urdu.

DEFINITION

There are fourteen Moon Letters in Urdu, called the “huruuf-e-qamarii” ( Devanagri: हुरूफ़-ए-क़मरी | IPA:  /hʊruːf-eː-qəmri:/ | Pronunciation:  ) collectively, from the words “qamarii” (क़मरी), meaning “of the moon/lunar” and “huruuf” (हुरूफ़), meaning “letters”.

These are:

Above: The fourteen Moon Letters or huruuf-e-qamarii

RULE

If the ‘alif-laam’ appears in the middle of a word and is followed by one of the Moon Letters, the ‘alif-laam’ is pronounced and lends the sound of ‘ul’ (उल) between the two words of the compound.

The interesting part is, that the two examples - “rasm-ul-KHat” (रस्म-उल-ख़त) and “malik-ul-hind” (मालिक-उल-हिन्द), we saw in the previous section, are good examples of this rule.

Let’s look at another compound for greater clarity - “nuur-ul-ain” (नूर-उल-ऐन), meaning “light of the eyes” literally, or “eyesight”:

Above: “nuur” + ‘alif-laam’ + “ain” = “nuur-ul-ain”. Notice that the ‘alif-laam’ is pronounced and lends the sound of ‘ul’.

Here’s a de-construction explaining this:

In the word “nuur-ul-ain”, the ‘alif’ of the ‘alif-laam’ is written in its isolated form after the word “nuur”

The ‘laam’ of the ‘alif-laam’ connects with the ‘ain’ from the second word in the compound - “ain”

Since the ‘alif-laam’ connects with the letter ‘ain’, which is a Moon Letter, it lends the sound of ‘ul’ between the two words

Similarly, here’s another compound - “zuu-ul-janaah” (ज़ू-उल-जनाह), meaning “winged”. This compound is made up of the words “zuu” (ज़ू), meaning “owner/master” and “janaah” (जनाह), meaning “wing”  . Here’s a simple break-down:

Above: “zuu” + ‘alif-laam’ + “janaah” = “zuu-ul-janaah”. Click on the speaker to know how “zuul-ul-janaah” is pronounced correctly.

24.4: Sun Letters

After the Moon Letters, come the “Sun Letters” in Urdu.

DEFINITION

Just like the Moon Letters, there are fourteen Sun Letters in Urdu, called the “huruuf-e-shamsii” ( Devanagri: हुरूफ़-ए-शम्सी | IPA:  /hʊruːf-eː-ʃəmsi:/ | Pronunciation:  ) collectively, from the words “shamsii” (शम्सी), meaning “of the sun/solar” and “huruuf” (हुरूफ़), meaning “letters”.

Above: The fourteen Sun Letters or huruuf-e-shamsii

RULE

If the ‘alif-laam’ appears in the middle of a word and is followed by one of the Sun Letters, the ‘alif-laam’ is silent. 

It, however, still lends the sound of ‘u’ (उ) followed by the sound of the first letter of the following word in the compound. Also, a tashdeed is placed over the first letter of the second word and is pronounced doubly as such.

For example, let’s look at the compound - “daar-us-saltanat” (दार-उस-सल्तनत), meaning “place of empire” quite literally, or in a more practical sense, “capital”. This is made up of the words “daar” (दार), meaning “place” and “saltanat” (सल्तनत), meaning “empire”:

Above: “daar” + ‘alif-laam’ + “saltanat” = “daar-us-saltanat”. Notice how the ‘alif-laam’ takes upon the sound of ‘us’ here.

Here’s a de-construction of this:

In the word “daar-us-saltanat”, the ‘alif’ of the ‘alif-laam’ is written in its isolated form after the word “daar”

The ‘laam’ of the ‘alif-laam’ connects with the ‘seen’ from the second word in the compound - “saltanat”

Since the ‘alif-laam’ connects with the letter ‘siin’, which is a Sun Letter, it is essentially silent, lending only the ‘u’ sound before joining with the ‘s’ sound of the ‘siin’, thereby becoming the sound ‘us’ (उस)

Following the rules of the Sun Letters, a tashdiid is also placed over the ‘siin’, which is the first letter of the second word indicating that the ‘s’ sound of the ‘siin’ is to be pronounced doubly

Click on the speaker icon again to listen to the correct pronunciation of the word “daar-us-saltanat” for good measure.

Here’s another such compound - “qamar-ud-diin” (क़मर-उद-दीन), which is a proper name translating to “moon of faith” literally. This is made up of the words “qamar” (क़मर), meaning “moon” and “diin” (दीन), meaning “religion/faith”:

Above: “qamar” + ‘alif-laam’ + “diin” = “qamar-ud-diin”. Notice how the ‘alif-laam’ takes upon the sound of ‘ud’ here.

Here again, we can see the ‘alif-laam’ take upon the ‘d’ (द) sound of the ‘daal’ in the second word “diin” to create the sound of ‘ud’ (उद). We can also see a tashdiid placed over the ‘daal’ in “qamar-ud-diin” indicating its doubled-pronunciation.

24.5: Exception - Silent ‘chhoTii ye’

Now that we’ve learnt all that, let’s look at an interesting exception in case of words where the ‘alif-laam’ follows a ‘chhoTii ye’.

RULE

If the ‘alif-laam’ appearing in the middle of a word is preceded by a ‘chhoTii ye’, the ‘chhoTii ye’ is rendered silent.

For example, let’s look at the word “al-al-hisaab” (अल-अल-हिसाब), meaning “without count/free-handed” and see how its written:

Above: The word “alal-hisaab” and the unique way it is spelled. Notice how the ‘chhoTii ye’ is silent.

Similarly, here’s the word “hattal-imkaan” (हत्त-अल-इमकान), meaning “as far as possible” and the way its written:

Above: The word “hatt-al-imkaan” and the way it is spelled

24.6: Exception - Silent ‘alif’

And here is a final exception presented by a few words.

RULE

If the ‘alif-laam’ appearing in the middle of a word is preceded by a ‘be’, the ‘alif’ is essentially silent and is replaced by the short-vowel sound ‘i’ (इ).

For example, let’s look at the commonly used word “bilkul” (बिल्कुल), meaning “surely/absolutely”:

Above: The word “bilkul” and the way it is spelled. Notice that the ‘alif’ following the ‘be’ is silent.

The word “bilkul” above, could very well be read as “baalkul” if one wasn’t aware of this exception and the unique way this word is spelled. Here, according to the exception mentioned, the ‘alif’ is silent and is replaced by the short-vowel sound of ‘i’.

Similarly, here are the words “bil-aaKHir” (बिल-आख़िर), meaning “finally/at last” and “bil-iraada” (बिल-इरादा), meaning “intentionally/deliberately”:

Above: The words “bil-aaKHir” and “bil-iraada”. Memorize the way they’re spelled.

24.7: Some more words

Here are a few more words for you to practice as the ‘alif-laam’ can get tricky at times. Study well!