Arabic alphabet

alphabet specifically codified for writing the Arabic language

AI overview

The Arabic alphabet is a standardized set of letters created for writing the Arabic language. It matters because it enables clear and consistent written communication for Arabic speakers across different regions and time periods.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

~36 min read

Encyclopedic overview

Countries and regions that use the Arabic script: as the sole official script a co-official script

The Arabic alphabet, or the Arabic abjad, is the Arabic script as specifically codified for writing the Arabic language. It is a unicameral script written from right-to-left in a cursive style, and includes 28 letters, of which most have contextual forms. The Arabic alphabet is an abjad, with only consonants required to be written (though the long vowels – ā ī ū – are also written, with letters used for consonants); due to its optional use of diacritics to notate vowels, it is considered an impure abjad.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Arabic alphabet” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.