Questions & Answers about الشمس والقمر في السماء.
Why isn't 'the sun' pronounced 'al-shams'?
The word for sun, شمس, starts with a 'sun letter' (ش). When we add the definite article ال (the), the ل sound gets absorbed by the ش, doubling it. So we say ash-shams instead of 'al-shams'.
Does 'the moon' follow a different rule?
Yes, the word for moon, قمر, starts with a 'moon letter' (ق). Moon letters don't absorb the ل sound. So the 'l' in القمر is pronounced clearly: al-qamar. (This is exactly where the names 'sun' and 'moon' letters come from!)
How exactly do I pronounce في السماء (in the sky) together?
The word سماء (sky) starts with the sun letter س, so the ل is assimilated. Additionally, when you connect the word في (in) to a word starting with ال, the ا of the ال becomes silent. So, the two words merge in pronunciation into something like 'fis-samaa'.
Where is the word for 'are' in this sentence?
There isn't one! In Arabic, you don't use 'is' or 'are' in present-tense sentences. You simply place the subject (الشمس والقمر) and the location (في السماء) side by side, literally saying 'The sun and the moon in the sky'.