Arabic/YesNoQuestions2

 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-)
The sentence "Are you cooking something?" would be translated with a ء/أ (hamza) at the beginning.
 * When asking about something happening now ء/أ is used.

The sentence "Do you cook?" or "Will you cook?" must be translated with هل (hal).
 * When asking about something to happen in the future, or regularly هل is used.