View source for Arabi Malayalam script

{{Short description|Arabic script adapted for Malayalam}}
{{About|the writing system|the language|Arabi Malayalam}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox writing system
 |name=Arabi Malayalam 
 | altname = Ponnani Script<br><span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.65;">{{script/Arabic|عَرَبِ مَلَیٰاۻَمْ}}<br><small>{{script/Arabic|''پٗنّٰانِ لِپِ''}}</small></span>
 |type=[[Abjad]]
 |languages= [[Malayalam]]
 |time=c. 500 to the present
 |fam1=[[Proto-Sinaitic alphabet|Proto-Sinaitic]]
 |fam2=[[Phoenician alphabet|Phoenician]]
 |fam3=[[Aramaic alphabet|Aramaic]]
 |fam4=[[Nabataean alphabet|Nabataean]]
 |fam5=[[Arabic alphabet]]
 |sample=
 |imagesize=
 }}
'''Arabi Malayalam script''' ([[Malayalam script|Malayalam]]: <small>അറബി-മലയാളം</small>, Arabi Malayalam: عَرَبِ مَلَیٰاۻَمْ), also known as '''Ponnani script''',<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kunnath|first=Ammad|date=15 September 2015|title=The rise and growth of Ponnani from 1498 AD To 1792 AD|journal=University |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/49524|publisher=Department of History|hdl=10603/49524}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Panakkal|first=Abbas|url=http://myto.upm.edu.my/find/Record/iium.u537621|title=Islam in Malabar (1460-1600) : a socio-cultural study /|date=2016|publisher=Kulliyyah Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia|access-date=27 May 2021|archive-date=27 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210527064123/http://myto.upm.edu.my/find/Record/iium.u537621|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kallen|first=hussain Randathani|title=TRADE AND CULTURE: INDIAN OCEAN INTERACTION ON THE COAST OF MALABAR IN MEDIEVAL PERIOD|url=https://www.academia.edu/22105661|language=en}}</ref> is a writing system — a variant form of the [[Arabic script]] with special [[orthography|orthographic]] features — for writing [[Arabi Malayalam]], a [[Dravidian languages|Dravidian language]] in southern India.<ref name="Miller"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Malayalam Resource Centre|url=http://www.malayalamresourcecentre.org/Mrc/literature/contribution.html|access-date=2023-01-11|website=archive.ph|archive-date=12 September 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912185758/http://www.malayalamresourcecentre.org/Mrc/literature/contribution.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Though the script originated and developed in [[Kerala]], today it is predominantly used in [[Malaysia]] and [[Singapore]] by the migrant Muslim community.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

Until the 20th century, the script was widely taught to all Muslims in the primary education madrasahs of Kerala.<ref name=":0">Menon. T. Madhava. "A Handbook of Kerala, Volume 2", International School of Dravidian Linguistics, 2002. pp. 491-493.</ref> Arabi-Malayalam is currently used in some of the primary education [[madrasahs]] of [[Kerala]] and [[Lakshadweep]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://lakshadweep.nic.in/depts/education/profile.htm|title=Arabi Malayalam in Lakshadweep|access-date=22 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101005155923/http://lakshadweep.nic.in/depts/education/profile.htm|archive-date=5 October 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=archive201409121829>{{Cite web|title=SAMASTHA – Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama &#124; samastha.info|url=https://samastha.info/|access-date=2023-01-11|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Letters ==
[[File:Arabi Malayalam Alphabet.jpg|thumb|718x718px|Arabi Malayalam alphabet with Malayalam alphabet correspondences]]
There were many complications to write Malayalam, a Dravidian language, using letters covering Arabic, a Semitic language. Only 28 letters were available from Arabic orthography to render over 53 phonemes of Malayalam. It was overcome by following the pattern of creating additional letters established for [[Persian alphabet|Persian]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-03-18|title=THE ARABI - MALAYALAM SCRIPTURE|url=http://www.e-malabari.net/culture/arabimalayalam.htm|access-date=2023-01-11|archive-date=18 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318235926/http://www.e-malabari.net/culture/arabimalayalam.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> The letters such as {{lang|ml-Latn|pa}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|gha}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|kha}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|ṅa}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|ña}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|ḻa}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|ga}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|ca}} were not available in the Arabic alphabets. The characters which stand for {{lang|ml-Latn|ḻa}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|ca}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|pa}}, {{lang|ml-Latn|ga}} ({{lang|ml|ഴ, ച, പ, ഗ}}) are {{lang|ml-Arab|<!--LRO-->گ ,پ ,چ ,ژ<!--PDF-->|rtl=yes}} respectively in Arabi Malayalam.
{| class="wikitable floatleft"  style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 85%; font-size: 100%; text-align: center; "
! colspan=3 |
|-
!Malayalam
!Arabi Malayalam
![[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]
|-
|ഴ
|ژ
|{{IPA|ɻ}}
|-
|ച
|چ
|{{IPA|tʃ}}
|-
|പ
|پ
|{{IPA|p}}
|-
|ഗ
|گ
|{{IPA|ɡ}}
|-
! colspan=3 |<ref>{{Cite web|date=2008-03-18|title=THE ARABI - MALAYALAM SCRIPTURE|url=http://e-malabari.net/culture/arabimalayalam.htm|access-date=2023-01-11|archive-date=18 March 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318235926/http://e-malabari.net/culture/arabimalayalam.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|}
{{clear}}

===Vowels===

{|dir="rtl"  class="wikitable" lang="ml" style="text-align: center"
|+lang="en" dir="ltr"| Arabi Malayalam vowels arranged according to the [[Malayalam script|Malayalam order]] <small>(right to left)</small><ref name="Malayalamozhi">[https://malayalamozhi.github.io/en/arabi-malayalam/#orthography Malayalamozhi. ''Arabi Malayalam'']</ref><ref name="tharuvana">[https://www.sahapedia.org/arabi-malayalam-3 Dr Azeez Tharuvana. (25 September 2018)''Arabi Malayalam''. Sahapedia]</ref>
|-lang="ml" dir="ltr" style="font-size:150%"
| {{Lang|ml|അ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ആ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ഇ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ഈ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ഉ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ഊ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ഋ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ൠ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ഌ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ൡ}} 
|-lang="ml-Arab" style="font-size:150%"
| {{Script/Arabic|اَ}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|اٰ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|اِ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|اِیـ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|اُ}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|اُو}}
| {{Script/Arabic|رْ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|رّْ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|لْـ / لْ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|لّْـ / لّْ}}
|-lang="ml" dir="ltr" style="font-size:150%"
| —
| {{Lang|ml|ാ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ി}}
| {{Lang|ml|ീ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ു}}
| {{Lang|ml|ൂ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ൃ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ൄ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ൢ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ൣ}}
|-lang="ml-Arab" style="font-size:150%"
| {{Script/Arabic|◌َ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ٰـا}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ِ}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ِیـ / ◌ِی}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ُ}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ُو}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ْرْ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ْرّْ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ْـلْـ / ◌ْـلْ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ْـلّْـ / ◌ْـلّْ}}
|-dir="ltr" style="font-size:125%"
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|a}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|ā}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|i}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|ī}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|u}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|ū}}
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|r̥}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|r̥̄}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|l̥}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|l̥̄}} 
|}

{|dir="rtl"  class="wikitable" lang="ml" style="text-align: center"
|+lang="en" dir="ltr"| 
|-lang="ml" dir="ltr" style="font-size:150%"
| {{Lang|ml|എ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ഏ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ഒ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ഓ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|ഐ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ഔ}} 
| {{Lang|ml|അം}} 
| {{Lang|ml|അഃ}}
|
|-lang="ml-Arab" style="font-size:150%"
| {{Script/Arabic|ا٘}} <sup>(1)</sup>
| {{Script/Arabic|ا٘یـ}} <sup>(1)</sup>
| {{Script/Arabic|اَیْـ / اَیْ}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|اٝ}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|اٝو}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|اَوْ}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|اَمْـ / اَمْ}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|اَھْ}} 
| 
|-lang="ml" dir="ltr" style="font-size:150%"
| {{Lang|ml|െ}}
| {{Lang|ml|േ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ൈ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ൊ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ോ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ൌ / ൗ}}
| {{Lang|ml|ം}}
| {{Lang|ml|ഃ}}
| {{Lang|ml|്}}
|-lang="ml-Arab" style="font-size:150%"
| {{Script/Arabic|◌٘}} <sup>(1)</sup>
| {{Script/Arabic|◌٘یـ / ◌٘ی}} <sup>(1)</sup>
| {{Script/Arabic|◌َیْـ / ◌َیْ}} 
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ٝ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ٝو}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌َوْ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌َمْـ / ◌َمْ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌َھْ}}
| {{Script/Arabic|◌ْ}} 
|-dir="ltr" style="font-size:125%"
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|e}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|ē}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|ai}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|o}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|ō}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|au}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|aṁ}} 
| {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|aḥ}} 
| ∅ / {{Transliteration|ml|ISO|italic=no|ŭ}} 
|}

:'''Notes'''

# Alternatively, historically, the following diacritic has been used for representing Malayalam letters {{lang|ml|എ}} and {{lang|ml|ഏ}} (romanized as '''e''' and '''ē''') and that is {{lang|ml-Arab|اࣣ / ◌ࣣ}}, {{lang|ml-Arab|اࣣیـ / ◌ࣣیـ / ◌ࣣی}} (Similar to orthographic conventions in [[Arwi|Arabi-Tamil]].

===Consonants===

Similar to [[Urdu alphabet|Urdu orthography]], Arabi Malayalam alphabet includes [[Digraph (orthography)|digraphs]] meant to represent [[aspirated consonant]]s. These are formed by following a letter with the letter ''he'' ({{lang|ml-Arab|ھ}}). While in Urdu, there are two separate letters ''he'', ''[[Gol he]]'' as an independent letter, and ''Do-chashmi he'' as part of aspirated consonant digraphs, this distinction is not necessarily made in Arabi-Malayalam.

{|class="wikitable Unicode" dir="rtl"
|+ Arabi Malayalam alphabet<ref name="Malayalamozhi"/><ref name="tharuvana"/>
|-
! Arabic<br><small>(Malayalam)</small><br><small>(Latin)</small><br><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:110%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ا}}</span><br><small>‌(ആ)<br>(ā)</small><br>{{IPAblink|∅}}/{{IPAblink|ʔ}}/{{IPAblink|aː}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ب}}</span><br><small>‌(ബ)<br>(b)</small><br>{{IPAblink|b}} 
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|بھ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഭ)<br>(bh)</small><br>{{IPAblink|bʱ}} 
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|پ}}</span><br><small>‌(പ)<br>(p)</small><br>{{IPAblink|p}} 
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|پھ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഫ)<br>(ph)</small><br>{{IPAblink|pʰ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ت}}</span> <br><small>‌(ത)<br>(t)</small><br>{{IPAblink|t̪}}  
|-
! Arabic<br><small>(Malayalam)</small><br><small>(Latin)</small><br><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|تھ}}</span> <br><small>‌(ഥ)<br>(th)</small><br>{{IPAblink|t̪ʰ}} 
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ث}}</span> <br><small>‌(സ)<br>(s)</small><br>{{IPAblink|s}} 
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ج}}</span><br><small>‌(ജ)<br>(j)</small><br>[{{IPA link|d͡ʒ}}~{{IPA link|d͡ʑ}}]
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|جھ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഝ)<br>(jh)</small><br>[{{IPA link|d͡ʒʱ}}~{{IPA link|d͡ʑʱ}}]
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|چ}}</span> <sup>2</sup><br><small>‌(ച)<br>(c)</small><br>[{{IPA link|t͡ʃ}}~{{IPA link|t͡ɕ}}]
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|چھ}}</span> <sup>2</sup><br><small>‌(ഛ)<br>(ch)</small><br>[{{IPA link|t͡ʃʰ}}~{{IPA link|t͡ɕʰ}}]
|-
! Arabic<br><small>(Malayalam)</small><br><small>(Latin)</small><br><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ڿ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഞ)<br>(ñ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɲ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ح}}</span><br><small>‌(ഹ)<br>(h)</small><br>{{IPAblink|h}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|خ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഖ)<br>(kh)</small><br>{{IPAblink|kʰ}}({{IPAblink|x}})
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|د}}</span><br><small>‌(ദ)<br>(d)</small><br>{{IPAblink|d̪}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|دھ}}</span><br><small>‌(ധ)<br>(dh)</small><br>{{IPAblink|d̪ʱ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ڊ}}</span> <sup>3</sup><br><small>‌(ട)<br>(ṭ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ʈ}}
|-
! Arabic<br><small>(Malayalam)</small><br><small>(Latin)</small><br><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ڊھ}}</span> <sup>3</sup><br><small>‌(ഠ)<br>(ṭh)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ʈʰ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ذ}}</span><br><small>‌(സ)<br>(s)</small><br>{{IPAblink|s}}({{IPAblink|z}})
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ر}}</span> <sup>1, 2</sup><br><small>‌(റ, ഋ,  ൃ, ൠ,  ൄ)<br>(ṟ, r̥, r̥̄)</small><br>{{IPAblink|r}}/[{{IPA link|r|rɨ}}]/[{{IPA link|r|rɨː}}]
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ڔ}}</span> <sup>2</sup><br><small>‌(ര, ററ, റ്റ, ഺ)<br>(r)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɾ}}/{{IPAblink|t|tː}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ز}}</span><br><small>‌(സ)<br>(s)</small><br>{{IPAblink|s}}({{IPAblink|z}})
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ڗ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഡ)<br>(ḍ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɖ}}
|-
! Arabic<br><small>(Malayalam)</small><br><small>(Latin)</small><br><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ڗھ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഢ)<br>(ḍh)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɖʱ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ژ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഴ)<br>(ḻ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɻ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|س}}</span><br><small>‌(സ)<br>(s)</small><br>{{IPAblink|s}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ش}}</span><br><small>‌(ശ)<br>(ś)</small><br>[{{IPA link|ɕ}}~{{IPA link|ʃ}}]
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ۺ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഷ)<br>(ṣ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ʂ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ص}}</span><br><small>‌(സ)<br>(s)</small><br>{{IPAblink|s}}
|-
! Arabic<br><small>(Malayalam)</small><br><small>(Latin)</small><br><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ض}}</span><br><small>‌(ള, ദ)<br>(ḷ, d)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɭ}}, {{IPAblink|d̪}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ۻ}}</span><br><small>‌(ള)<br>(ḷ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɭ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:110%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ط}}</span><br><small>‌(ഥ)<br>(t)</small><br>{{IPAblink|t̪}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ظ}}</span><br><small>‌(സ, ദ)<br>(s, d)</small><br>{{IPAblink|s}}, {{IPAblink|d̪}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ع}}</span><br><small>‌(-)<br>(’)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ʔ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|غ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഗ)<br>(g)</small><br>{{IPAblink|g}} 
|-
! Arabic<br><small>(Malayalam)</small><br><small>(Latin)</small><br><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ۼ}}</span><br><small>‌(ങ)<br>(ṅ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ŋ}} 
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ف}}</span><br><small>‌(ഫ)<br>(ph)</small><br>{{IPAblink|pʰ}}({{IPAblink|f}})
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" bgcolor="#FFEFD5"| <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ق}}</span><br><small>‌(ക)<br>(k)</small><br>{{IPAblink|k}}({{IPAblink|q}})
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ك}}</span> <br><small>‌(ക)<br>(k)</small><br>{{IPAblink|k}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|كھ‎}}</span> <br><small>‌(ക)<br>(kh)</small><br>{{IPAblink|kʰ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|گ}}</span> <br><small>‌(ഗ)<br>(g)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɡ}}
|-
! Arabic<br><small>(Malayalam)</small><br><small>(Latin)</small><br><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|گھ‎}}</span> <br><small>‌(ഘ)<br>(gh)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɡʱ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ل}}</span> <sup>3</sup><br><small>‌(ല, ഌ,  ൢ, ൡ,  ൣ)<br>(l, l̥, l̥̄)</small><br>{{IPAblink|l}}/[{{IPA link|l|lɨ}}]/[{{IPA link|l|lɨː}}]
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|م}}</span><br><small>‌(മ, അം, ം)<br>(m, ṁ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|m}}  
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ن}}</span> <br><small>‌(ന)<br>(n)</small><br>[{{IPA link|n̪}}~{{IPA link|n}}]
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ڹ}}</span><br><small>‌(ണ)<br>(ṇ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ɳ}}
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|و}}</span><br><small>‌(വ)(ൌ, ോ, ൂ)<br>(v, au, ō, ū)</small><br>{{IPAblink|ʋ}}/[{{IPA link|au̯}}]{{IPAblink|oː}}{{IPAblink|uː}}
|-
! Arabic<br><small>(Malayalam)</small><br><small>(Latin)</small><br><nowiki>[</nowiki>[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ھ}}</span><br><small>‌(ഹ, അഃ,  ഃ)<br>(h, ḥ)</small><br>{{IPAblink|h}} 
| style="width:7em; text-align:center; padding: 3px;" | <span style="font-size:100%;line-height:1.35;">{{script/Arabic|ی}}</span><br><small>‌(യ)(ൈ, േ, ീ)<br>(y, ai, ē, ī)</small><br>{{IPAblink|j}}/[{{IPA link|ai̯}}]{{IPAblink|eː}}{{IPAblink|iː}}
|}

:'''Notes'''
# This letter is also used for representing the semi-vowel {{lang|ml|ഋ, ൃ}} ('''r̥'''), and when geminated with the [[shaddah]] diacritic, its corresponding elongated form {{lang|ml|ൠ, ൄ}}  ('''r̥̄''').
# When the Malayalam letter {{lang|ml|റ}} is geminated (usually in the form റ+റ, possibly in the form ൻ + റ, but also in scholarly documents by {{lang|ml|റ്റ, ഺ}}), in Arabi Malayalam, it is written with the letter {{lang|ml-Arab|ڔّ}}.
# This letter is also used for representing the semi-vowel {{lang|ml|ഌ, ൢ}} ('''l̥'''), and when geminated with the [[shaddah]] diacritic, its corresponding elongated form {{lang|ml|ൡ, ൣ}}  ('''l̥̄''').

== Usage ==
[[File:Multilingual (Tamil and Malayalam - Arabic script) advertisement - catalogue of books and textiles - Ponnani (1908).jpg|thumb|left|A multilingual advertisement with a catalogue of books and textiles available from a shop in Ponnani in 1908. Text on the left hand side is [[Arwi|Arabi-Tamil]], text on the right hand side, Arabi Malayalam script]]

Most of the [[Mappila Songs]] were written, for the first time, in Arabi-Malayalam script. The earliest known such work is the ''Muhyidheen Mala'', written in 1607.<ref name=":0" />[[File:Muhyadheen mala.jpg|thumb|Copy of the first book in Arabi-Malayalam called "Muhyadheen Mala"]]
Many literary works written in Arabi Malayalam still have not been transliterated to the Malayalam script, and some estimates put the number at almost 90 percent. These works, romantic ballads, folk tales and battle songs, contain some of the impressive literary achievements by [[Mappila]]s over the centuries.<ref name="Miller">Miller, Roland. E., "Mappila" in "The Encyclopedia of Islam". Volume VI. E. J. Brill, Leiden. 1987. pp. 458-56.</ref>

The first Arabi Malayalam scripted novel, ''Chahar Dervesh'', Malayalam translation of a Persian work, was published in 1883.<ref>Sharafudeen, S. "Muslims of Kerala: a Modern Approach, "Kerala Historical Society, 2003. pp. 152</ref> Intellectuals such as [[Moyinkutty Vaidyar]] translated, and then transliterated significant number of works in Sanskrit - such as ''[[Ashtānga Hridayam|Ashtanga Hridaya]], [[Amarakosha|Amarakosa]], [[Panchatantra|Pancatantra]]'' and even the legends about the Hindu king [[Vikramaditya]] - into Arabi Malayalam.<ref name="survey">"Malayalam Literary Survey", Volume 16 (1) -17 (4), Kēraḷa Sāhitya Akkādami, 1994. pp. 88</ref> Sanskrit medical texts - such as ''Upakarasara'', ''Yogarambha'' and ''Mahasara'' - were also translated, and then transliterated into Arabi-Malayalam by scholars like Abdurahiman Musaliar of [[Ponnani]] Putiyakattu.<ref name="survey"/> Arabi Malayalam script periodicals made remarkable contributions to the reform movement amongst the Mappilas in the early 20th century.

== Sample Texts ==

Below are several sample texts in Arabi Malayalam orthography, in standard Malayalam Script, and transliterated into Latin as per [[ISO 15919]].<ref name="Malayalamozhi"/>

{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:100%"
! Arabi Malayalam Script
! Malayalam Script
! [[ISO 15919]] Latin
! English
|-
| dir="rtl" style="font-size:110%;line-height:1.65;" | {{Script/Arabic|{{lang|ml-Arab|كَلْكّ٘یڹڊَتُ پِژَوُكَۻِّلّٰات٘ كَلْكُّكَ ، كَڔُّكَژِڿّٰالَتِلُرَچُّ نِنِّیڊُكَ}} }}
| {{lang|ml|കല്ക്കേണ്ടതു പിഴവുകളില്ലാതെ കല്ക്കുക, കറ്റുകഴിഞ്ഞാലതിലുറച്ചു നിന്നീടുക}}
| kalkkēṇṭatu piḻavukaḷillāte kalkkuka, kaṟṟukaḻiññālatiluṟaccu ninnīṭuka
| Do what needs to be done without mistakes, and when it is done, stand up
|-
| dir="rtl" style="font-size:110%;line-height:1.65;" | {{Script/Arabic|{{lang|ml-Arab|مَنُۺْيَڔ٘لّٰاوَڔ٘مْ تُلْيٰاوَكٰاشَۼَّۻٗوڊُمْ اَنتَسّٗوڊُمْ سْوٰاتَنْڔّْیَتّٗوڊُۼْكُوڊِ جَنِچِّڊُّۻَّوَڔٰاڹْ. اَنْیٗونْيَمْ بْھ‎ڔٰاتْرْبٰھاوَتّٗوڊ٘ پ٘ڔُمٰارُوٰانٰاڹ‎ْ مَنُۺْیَنْ وِو٘یكَبُدِّھیُمْ مَنَسٰاكْۺِیُمْ سِدَّھمٰایِرِكُّنَّتْ.}} }}
| {{lang|ml|മനുഷ്യരെല്ലാവരും തുല്യാവകാശങ്ങളോടും അന്തസ്സോടും സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തോടുംകൂടി ജനിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളവരാണ്‌. അന്യോന്യം ഭ്രാതൃഭാവത്തോടെ പെരുമാറുവാനാണ്‌ മനുഷ്യന് വിവേകബുദ്ധിയും മനസാക്ഷിയും സിദ്ധമായിരിക്കുന്നത്‌.}}
| manuṣyarellāvaruṁ tulyāvakāśaṅṅaḷōṭuṁ antassōṭuṁ svātantryattōṭuṅkūṭi janicciṭṭuḷḷavarāṇ‌ŭ. anyōnyaṁ bhrātr̥bhāvattōṭe perumāṟuvānāṇ‌ŭ manuṣyanŭ vivēkabuddhiyuṁ manasākṣiyuṁ siddhamāyirikkunnat‌ŭ.
| All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
|}

==See also==
* [[Arabi Malayalam]], a dialect of Malayalam used by [[Mappila Muslims]]
* [[Beary language]]
* [[Arwi]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

{{Topics related to Kerala}}
{{Arabic script}}

[[Category:Arabi Malayalam]]
[[Category:Islamic culture]]
[[Category:Arabic alphabets]]
[[Category:Arabic alphabets for South Asian languages]]