What Is Tanween? Fathatain, Kasratain and Dammatain

Learn Tanween in Noorani Qaida, recognise Fathatain, Kasratain and Dammatain, and practise the short an, in and un endings with clear Arabic examples.

What Is Tanween?

Tanween is a double vowel mark that normally appears at the end of an Arabic noun or adjective. It combines a short vowel with a light Noon sound. The Noon sound is heard when reading continuously, but a separate letter ن is not written after the word.

The three forms of Tanween are Fathatain, Kasratain and Dammatain. They are based on the three Harakat studied in the previous lesson:

Fatha َ becomes Fathatain ً

Kasra ِ becomes Kasratain ٍ

Damma ُ becomes Dammatain ٌ

The word Tanween is sometimes described as nunation because each ending includes an audible n sound.

The Three Tanween Sounds

Fathatain: ً

Fathatain gives a short “an” ending when the reader continues to the next sound. It consists of two Fatha marks. In normal Arabic spelling, an additional Alif is often written with Fathatain at the end of a word.

كِتَابًا = kitaaban

قَلَمًا = qalaman

بَيْتًا = baytan

Keep the first vowel short. Do not turn the ending into a separate, strongly pronounced Noon letter.

Kasratain: ٍ

Kasratain gives a short “in” ending when reading continuously. It consists of two Kasra marks below the final letter.

كِتَابٍ = kitaabin

قَلَمٍ = qalamin

بَيْتٍ = baytin

The mouth moves towards the short i sound, followed smoothly by the light n sound.

Dammatain: ٌ

Dammatain gives a short “un” ending when reading continuously. It consists of two Damma marks above the final letter.

كِتَابٌ = kitaabun

قَلَمٌ = qalamun

بَيْتٌ = baytun

Round the lips gently for the short u sound, then complete the ending with the n sound.

Read The Three Forms Together

Read each set from right to left and notice that the main word remains the same while its ending changes:

كِتَابٌ كِتَابٍ كِتَابًا

Kitaabun, kitaabin, kitaaban.

قَلَمٌ قَلَمٍ قَلَمًا

Qalamun, qalamin, qalaman.

بَيْتٌ بَيْتٍ بَيْتًا

Baytun, baytin, baytan.

These spellings are pronunciation guides only. Arabic case endings are chosen according to grammar, so a student should not select an ending randomly when forming a sentence. At Noorani Qaida level, the first goal is to recognise and pronounce each written sign correctly.

Tanween Is Not A Written Noon

In a word such as كِتَابٌ, you hear an n sound at the end during continuous reading, but you do not see a final ن. The Dammatain sign carries that sound. Do not add another Noon to the spelling and do not read the ending twice.

Compare:

بٌ = bun

بُنْ = bun with an actual Noon Saakin written after Baa

The two may sound similar in isolated beginner practice, but their written forms and later Tajweed applications are not identical. Learning to recognise the Tanween sign now will make the rules of Noon Saakin and Tanween easier later.

Keep The Vowel Short

Tanween begins with a short vowel. Fathatain is an, not aan. Kasratain is in, not een. Dammatain is un, not oon. Read the ending in one smooth movement without separating the vowel and n sound into two heavy syllables.

Practise slowly:

بً بٍ بٌ

Ban, bin, bun.

تً تٍ تٌ

Tan, tin, tun.

جً جٍ جٌ

Jan, jin, jun.

مً مٍ مٌ

Man, min, mun.

These isolated forms train sign recognition. Complete words provide more natural reading practice.

How To Stop On Tanween

The Tanween n sound is normally heard when the reader continues. When stopping at the end of a word, that n sound is not pronounced.

With Dammatain or Kasratain, stop on the final letter without the un or in ending. The final consonant becomes still for the stop:

كِتَابٌ becomes كِتَابْ when stopping.

كِتَابٍ also becomes كِتَابْ when stopping.

With Fathatain, the common basic rule is to replace the an ending with a long aa sound when stopping:

كِتَابًا becomes كِتَابَا when stopping.

This long aa is read for the normal Madd length. There are important spelling exceptions, including words ending in Taa Marbootah, so practise stopping with a qualified teacher rather than applying one written pattern to every word.

For example, a word ending with Taa Marbootah and Tanween is stopped with a Haa sound, not with the normal Fathatain Alif pattern:

رَحْمَةً is stopped as رَحْمَهْ

At this stage, understand the main difference between continuing and stopping. Detailed rules of waqf can be studied separately.

Tanween In Connected Quran Recitation

The simple an, in and un descriptions teach the base sound. In connected Quran recitation, the pronunciation of Tanween may change according to the letter that follows it. The later rules are Izhar, Idgham, Iqlab and Ikhfa.

Do not guess these advanced applications from English transliteration. First identify the Tanween, look at the next Arabic letter, and follow the rule taught by your Tajweed teacher. When practising a single word by itself, pronounce the clear base ending unless your teacher is demonstrating a stop.

A Simple Ten-Minute Practice Routine

Step 1: Point to ً, ٍ and ٌ and name each sign.

Step 2: Read the isolated pattern بً بٍ بٌ without stretching the vowels.

Step 3: Read three complete word sets and notice how only the ending changes.

Step 4: Ask a teacher or study partner to point to the signs in a mixed order.

Step 5: Read each word once while continuing and once while stopping.

Step 6: Record your practice and listen for an ending that became aan, een or oon.

Step 7: Repeat any unclear word while preserving the Makharij of its final consonant.

Common Beginner Mistakes

Missing the n sound: When continuing, complete the an, in or un ending unless a later Tajweed rule changes how it is performed.

Writing an extra Noon: Tanween already represents the heard n sound. Do not add ن to the written word.

Stretching the short vowel: Keep the vowel brief and do not confuse Tanween with Madd.

Reading both marks separately: Dammatain is read un, not “u-u”. Kasratain is in, not “i-i”. Fathatain is an, not “a-a”.

Ignoring the stop: Do not keep the Tanween n sound when making a proper stop.

Using the Fathatain stop everywhere: Remember that Taa Marbootah and other spelling situations need separate guidance.

Changing the final consonant: Preserve the letter’s Makhrij before completing the Tanween ending.

Practice Check

Can I identify all three Tanween signs without looking at their names?

Can I read an, in and un as short, connected endings?

Can I explain why the n sound is heard although a separate Noon is not written?

Can I distinguish بٌ from بُ and بُو?

Can I read a word continuously and then make a correct basic stop?

Do I know that the following letter may activate a later Tajweed rule?

Lesson Summary

Fathatain ً gives the base ending an, Kasratain ٍ gives in, and Dammatain ٌ gives un during continuous reading. The n sound is heard but is not written as a separate Noon. Keep each vowel short, recognise the sign before reading, and remove the Tanween n sound when stopping. Learn exceptions and connected-recitation rules directly from a qualified teacher.