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Arabic/YesNoQuestions2
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ء OR أ
This type of hamza can start a question. It works in the same way as هل (hal). It goes before a statement to make it a question. It makes the sound (a). Make sure that you don't pronounce it so it rhymes with "bay", it rhymes with "la".
أليس كذلك؟
a laysa kadhaalik?
a-lay-sa-ka-dhaa-lik
Isn't it? / Isn't it like that?
أرئيت؟
a ra'ayt?
a-ra-ayt
Have you seen?
The difference between هل (hal) and ء/أ (-hamza-)
When asking about something happening now ء/أ is used.
The sentence "Are you cooking something?" would be translated with a ء/أ (hamza) at the beginning.
When asking about something to happen in the future, or regularly هل is used.
The sentence "Do you cook?" or "Will you cook?" must be translated with هل (hal).