Nunation "التنوين"

While listening to this segment, keep in mind that nunation (التنوين) is used in pronouncing many words that are included in it. Generally, in formal spoken Arabic, “nunation” is part of the pronunciation of indefinite nouns that are not the first term of “Idafa” (noun in construct) construction, nor a diptote (ممنوع من الصرف).

The nunation is the sound of letter NUN (ن) that is heard, but not written at the end of a word. It is usually marked with a double Fatha (ً ), double Kasra (ٍ ), or double Dhamma (ٌ ) in written code. In the following example:

أمهلت وزارة العمل السعودية الشركات التي وصفتها بالمتحايلة مدة ستةً وأربعين (46) يوماً لتنفيذ قرار مجلس الوزراء.

The nunated words here are (ستةً and يوماً). Since they are in the accusative case, the nunation is marked two Fathas at the end of the word. They are pronounced as (setaten and yawmen).

Note that the Alif with two Fathas is mostly used to mark nunation when the word is in the accusative case and does not end with Ta’a marboutah (ة). Otherwise, the nunation is marked with two Kasras or two Dhammas on the final letter of a word, depending of the case of that word. Nunated words can be noun, adjective, or adverb.