Common mistake · Short a vs short e
Short A and E: bad or bed?
Why does it happen?
The short a sound /æ/ does not exist in Arabic, so the child moves it towards a fatha or a kasra and bad merges with bed.
How do we fix it?
Short a: open the mouth wider than the Arabic fatha, tongue low and forward. e: the mouth is less open.
Minimal pairs
Hear the difference
Two words that differ by one sound only. Tap each word, listen, then repeat.
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
vs
Today's drill (5 minutes)
Exaggerate the open mouth on a (like at the doctor: a short 'aah'), then close it a little on e.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my child get Short a vs short e wrong?
The short a sound /æ/ does not exist in Arabic, so the child moves it towards a fatha or a kasra and bad merges with bed.
How do I fix Short a vs short e?
Short a: open the mouth wider than the Arabic fatha, tongue low and forward. e: the mouth is less open.
What is a good drill?
Exaggerate the open mouth on a (like at the doctor: a short 'aah'), then close it a little on e.