Learn Arabic (Modern Standard): أين الجبل الكبير؟

Both words start with "Moon letters" (the letter ج and the letter ك). When a word starts with a Moon letter, the ل (l) in the word "the" (ال) is pronounced normally. This is different from "Sun letters," which force the "l" sound to assimilate into the next letter.

Why does the word for "big" (الكبير) have ال attached to it?

In Arabic, adjectives must match the noun they describe. Since the noun "mountain" has "the" (الجبل), its adjective "big" must also have "the" (الكبير). So, Arabic literally says "Where the mountain, the big?"

Where is the word for "is" in this sentence?

Arabic doesn't use a word for "am", "is", or "are" in simple present-tense sentences. You just place the words together (أين الجبل الكبير؟) and the "is" is naturally understood by the listener.

Do the words أين and الجبل flow together when speaking?

Yes! The "a" sound at the start of ال is a special connecting vowel. When reading smoothly, you drop that "a" sound and connect the end of the previous word directly to the "l". So أين الجبل (ayna al-jabal) is usually pronounced together as "aynal-jabal".