The Algerian Script and Pronunciation

1_ The Letters

We use all the Classical Arabic (Fusha) letters. The following is how they are scripted in different positions of the word.

From right to left (letter, initial, medial, final positions)

ุฃ ุฃ ู€ุง ุฃุŒุก

ุจ ุจู€ ู€ุจู€ ู€ุจ

ุช ุชู€ ู€ุชู€ ู€ุชุŒุฉ

ุซ ุซู€ ู€ุซู€ ู€ุซ

ุฌ ุฌู€ ู€ุฌู€ ู€ุฌ

ุญ ุญู€ ู€ุญู€ ู€ุญ

ุฎ ุฎู€ ู€ุฎู€ ู€ุฎ

ุฏ ุฏ ู€ุฏ ู€ุฏ

ุฐ ุฐ ู€ุฐ ู€ุฐ

ุฑ ุฑ ู€ุฑ ู€ุฑ

ุฒ ุฒ ู€ุฒ ู€ุฒ

ุณ ุณู€ ู€ุณู€ ู€ุณ

ุด ุดู€ ู€ุดู€ ู€ุด

ุต ุตู€ ู€ุตู€ ู€ุต

ุถ ุถู€ ู€ุถู€ ู€ุถ

ุท ุทู€ ู€ุทู€ ู€ุท

ุธ ุธู€ ู€ุธู€ ู€ุธ

ุน ุนู€ ู€ุนู€ ู€ุน

ุบ ุบู€ ู€ุบู€ ู€ุบ

ู ูู€ ู€ูู€ ู€ู

ู‚ ู‚ู€ ู€ู‚ู€ ู€ู‚

ูƒ ูƒู€ ู€ูƒู€ ู€ูƒ

ู„ ู„ู€ ู€ู„ู€ ู€ู„

ู… ู…ู€ ู€ู…ู€ ู€ู…

ู† ู†ู€ ู€ู†ู€ ู€ู†

ู‡ ู‡ู€ ู€ู‡ู€ ู€ู‡

ูˆ ูˆ ู€ูˆ ู€ูˆ

ูŠ ูŠู€ ู€ูŠู€ ู€ูŠ

2_ Additional โ€œLettersโ€

In addition to the previous letters, we have the โ€œletterโ€   (ฺค). It is used instead of the letter (ู‚) in most of the words, in some regions of Algeria.

Examples:   ู‚ุฑูŠุจ _ ฺคุฑูŠุจ   (near)       ู†ู‚ูˆู„ _ ู†ฺคูˆู„  (I say)

Also, it is used in the French-origin words.

Examples:  ฺคุงุฑุงุฌ   (garage)         ู†ฺคุงุฑูŠ   (I park)

Also, we have these two โ€œlettersโ€  ( ูพ ุŒ ู )  that are only used in French-origin words.

Examples:    ู†ูพุฑุงุชูŠูƒูŠ   (I practice)      ุชูŠู„ูŠููŠุฒูŠูˆู†  (television)  

3_ Vowels

_ Stop Sound:   a small circle above the letter.

Examples:   (I ate) ูƒู’ู„ูŠุชู’  _   (book)  ูƒู’ุชุงุจู’

_ The Stress:   a small โ€œwโ€ shape above the letter.

Examples:  (taste) ู…ุฑู‘ุงุช    _  ุจู†ู‘ุฉ (sometimes)

_ Short โ€œaโ€ vowel:   a dash above the letter.

Examples: (he cried)  ุจู’ู†ูŠู†ูŽุฉ  _  ุจู’ูƒูŽู‰  (tasty)

_ Short โ€œuโ€ vowel:   a comma shape above the letter.

Examples:  (important) ุชูุฑู’ูƒูŠ  _  ู…ูู‡ู…ู‘ (Turkish)

_ Short โ€œiโ€ vowel:   a dash below the letter.

Examples: (mine)  ุฅู†ู’ุชู  _  ู„ููŠู‘ูŽุง (you โ€œfemaleโ€)

_ Long โ€œaโ€ vowel:   the medial form of the letter ( ุฃ ).

Examples: (how are you?) ุฑุงุญ  _  ูˆุดุฑุงูƒ (he went)

_ Long โ€œuโ€ vowel:   the letter ( ูˆ ).

Examples:  (be)  ููˆุฑู’  _  ูŠู’ูƒูˆู† (very good)

_ Long โ€œiโ€ vowel:   the letter ( ูŠ ).

Examples:  (fine)  ุฑุงู†ูŠ  _  ู…ู’ู„ูŠุญ (I am โ€œdoingโ€โ€ฆ)