BrillKids Forum

ASA,

Dear Nohayo & Everyone,

I am wondering if there is an Arabic dictionary online that has the pronunciation of words?, like in the following site:  http://www.m-w.com for English?

Thanks.
ASA
Ayesha

ASA . . .

WOW! I actually found one:

http://www.acapela-group.com/text-to-speech-interactive-demo.html

Would a native speaker please check it for me?

JAK
ASA
Ayesha :)

ASA,

Dear All,

Three more sources for Arabic text with pronunciation:

Madinah Arabic - Reading Course (letters to words)
http://www.madinaharabic.com/Arabic_Reading_Course/Arabic_%20Reading_Course.htm


Madinah Arabic - Language Course (couplets/phrases/sentences)
http://www.madinaharabic.com/Arabic_Language_Course/Arabic_%20Language_%20Course.htm


Additional Madinah Arabic resources (with downloadable books/videos/answer keys):
http://www.lqtoronto.com/


Muttaqun Online > Learn to Speak Arabic
Arabic, English, Transliteration, and Audio
http://muttaqun.com/arabic/index.html

Enjoy!
ASA
Ayesha

ASA Sr. Ayesha,

I am a native speaker. I checked the acapela-group dictionary, it's great. I tried many words that were spelled perfectly in correct Fusha.

I tried the verb played لعب in many versions with different Tahrik (Tashkil):
لعِبتُ (I played) La3ibtou
لعبَت (She played) La3ibat
that were perfectly spelled.

Roman Numerals were spelled also in correct Arabic Fusha

I think it is a great reference !!!

ASA

Dear Rima & Everyone,

Thanks for checking the acapela site for Arabic text-to-speech.  And am I correct to understand that it spells well - but does not pronounce well? 

Below is another source for pronunciation (audio, I believe?) - that I could not get to work, and maybe someone else will have better success:

http://dictionary.sakhr.com/

These will be useful for non-Arabic speakers who are unable to find a native Arabic speaker to pronounce words for them. 

Thank you!

ASA
Ayesha

Dear Ayesha,

Acapella spells whatever you input as a text. So, if you write the text without short vowel marks -Tashil (especially at the end), it pronouces as it is written, and not as it shall be pronounced gramatically. If Tashkil is included in the text it is being pronounced.

Second, if you write a sentence with words starting with ال التعريف (Al Taarif), it pronounces the sentence word for word, without liaisons. So, it is not recommended for spelling sentences, but individual words.

As for Sakhr, there are audio files for predefined available arabic texts (Articles, news, stories, ...). 

ASA
Rima

Dear Ayesha,

I checked Madinaharabic & Muttaqun sites, these are different than acapella, they include predefined arabic with corresponding audio pronounciations file.

I prefer the Madinaharabic, first because the pronounciation is closer to fusgh & quranic recitations pronounciations, while the Muttaqun uses egyptian pronounciation. Second, it includes a lot of chapters & details, and can really be a good start for learning arabic.

ASA
Rima

 

ASA,

Dear Everyone,

One note for non-Arabic speakers on Arabic pronunciation.  The last vowel (markings above and below the Arabic letters in words) on a word is not pronounced when stopping on the word, like at the end of a sentence or when pausing for a breath.  However, when you are continuing to read the next word, the last vowel is pronounced. 

For example:

1.  [written] al-kitabu (the book) is pronounced "al-kitab"

2.  [written] al-kitabu al-jadeedu (the new book) is pronounced "al-kitab al-jadeed".

You will notice this small distinction when reading and listening to Arabic.

ASA
Sincerely,
Abu Hurayrah