Read the short vowel fathah
Fathah is a small diagonal mark above a letter. In beginner reading it signals a short a vowel after the consonant.
Understand the idea
Compare بَ with بِ and بُ. The consonant stays baa, while the vowel mark changes. Keep the short vowel brief; do not add an alif or stretch it into a long vowel. Listen to the source exercise and ask a teacher to check your reading.
بَ · تَ · مَ
Put it into practice
Point to the vowel mark in each example, then read the three syllables at an even pace.
YOUR TURN
Check your understanding
A practice record, not a qualification or a pronunciation assessment. Saved in this browser.
Reading reference: Open the source ↗. The explanation, classroom examples and exercise are original academy material. Reviewed September 8, 2026.