diff --git a/src/arabic/LexiconAra.gf b/src/arabic/LexiconAra.gf
index a0dcfd821..b6b12a45d 100644
--- a/src/arabic/LexiconAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/LexiconAra.gf
@@ -73,8 +73,7 @@ flags
   drink_V2     = dirV2 (regV "شَرِب") ;
 --  drink_V2     = dirV2 (v1 "شرب" i a) ;
   easy_A2V     = mkA2 (sndA "سهل" "فَعل") "لِ" ;
-  eat_V2       = dirV2 (regV "يَ؟كُل") ;
---  eat_V2       = dirV2 (v1 "؟كل" a u) ;
+  eat_V2       = dirV2 (mkV "ء‎كل" FormI) ;
   empty_A      = sndA "فرغ" "فاعِل" ;
   enemy_N      = brkN "عدو" "فَعُلّ" "أَفعاء" Masc Hum ;
   factory_N    = brkN "صنع" "مَفعَل" "مَفاعِل" Masc NoHum ;
diff --git a/src/arabic/OrthoAra.gf b/src/arabic/OrthoAra.gf
index 89cf4513a..5c5602d9d 100644
--- a/src/arabic/OrthoAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/OrthoAra.gf
@@ -4,12 +4,22 @@ flags coding=utf8 ;
 
   oper
 
+  -- Definite article assimilation
+    vow : pattern Str = #("َ" | "ِ" | "ُ") ;
+
+
+    -- "Sun letters": assimilate with def. article
+    sun : pattern Str = #("ت"|"ث"|"د"|"ذ"|"ر"|"ز"|"س"|"ش"|"ص"|"ض"|"ط"|"ظ"|"ل"|"ن") ;
+
+  -- Hamza
+    hamza : pattern Str = #("ء‎"|"؟") ;
+
     rectifyHmz: Str -> Str = \word ->
       case word of {
-        l@(""|"ال") + "؟" + v@("َ"|"ُ") + tail => l + "أ" + v + tail;
-        l@(""|"ال") + "؟" + v@("ِ") + tail => l + "إ" + v + tail;
-        head + v1@("ِ"|"ُ"|"َ"|"ْ"|"ا"|"ي"|"و") + "؟" + v2@(""|"ُ"|"َ"|"ْ"|"ِ") => head + v1 + (tHmz v1) + v2;
-        head + "؟" + tail => head + (bHmz (dp 2 head) (take 2 tail)) + tail; --last head , take 1 tail
+        l@(""|"ال") + #hamza + v@("َ"|"ُ") + tail => l + "أ" + v + tail;
+        l@(""|"ال") + #hamza + v@("ِ") + tail => l + "إ" + v + tail;
+        head + v1@("ِ"|"ُ"|"َ"|"ْ"|"ا"|"ي"|"و") + #hamza + v2@(""|"ُ"|"َ"|"ْ"|"ِ") => head + v1 + (tHmz v1) + v2;
+        head + #hamza + tail => head + (bHmz (dp 2 head) (take 2 tail)) + tail; --last head , take 1 tail
         _           => word
       };
 
diff --git a/src/arabic/ParadigmsAra.gf b/src/arabic/ParadigmsAra.gf
index ba6473fda..3aaa804ff 100644
--- a/src/arabic/ParadigmsAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/ParadigmsAra.gf
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ resource ParadigmsAra = open
     let { raw = v1' rootStr vPerf vImpf } in
     { s = \\vf =>
         case rootStr of {
-          _ + "؟" + _ => rectifyHmz(raw.s ! vf);
+          _ + #hamza + _ => rectifyHmz(raw.s ! vf);
           _ => raw.s ! vf
         };
       lock_V = <>
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ resource ParadigmsAra = open
     let { raw = v5' rootStr } in
     { s = \\vf =>
         case rootStr of {
-          _ + "؟" + _ => rectifyHmz(raw.s ! vf);
+          _ + #hamza + _ => rectifyHmz(raw.s ! vf);
           _ => raw.s ! vf
         };
       lock_V = <>
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ resource ParadigmsAra = open
     let { raw = brkN' root sg pl gen spec} in
     { s = \\n,d,c =>
         case root of {
-          _ + "؟" + _ => rectifyHmz(raw.s ! n ! d ! c);
+          _ + #hamza + _ => rectifyHmz(raw.s ! n ! d ! c);
           _ => raw.s ! n ! d ! c
         };
       g = gen;
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ resource ParadigmsAra = open
     let  raw = sndA' root pat in {
       s = \\af =>
         case root of {
-          _ + "؟" + _ => rectifyHmz(raw.s ! af);
+          _ + #hamza + _ => rectifyHmz(raw.s ! af);
         _ => raw.s ! af
         };
       lock_A = <>
diff --git a/src/arabic/ResAra.gf b/src/arabic/ResAra.gf
index 0a977cf65..15e4d6668 100644
--- a/src/arabic/ResAra.gf
+++ b/src/arabic/ResAra.gf
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 ---- implement $Test$, it moreover contains regular lexical
 ---- patterns needed for $Lex$.
 --
-resource ResAra = PatternsAra ** open  Prelude, Predef, ParamX  in {
+resource ResAra = PatternsAra ** open  Prelude, Predef, OrthoAra, ParamX  in {
 
   flags optimize=noexpand ; coding=utf8 ;
 
@@ -94,7 +94,8 @@ resource ResAra = PatternsAra ** open  Prelude, Predef, ParamX  in {
         w@_ + "ف" + x@_ + "ع" + y@_ =>
           let pat = { h = w ; m1 = x; m2 = ""; t = y} in
           case <length rS : Ints 100> of {
-            6 | 5 => mkWeak pat (mkRoot3 rS) ; --3=>
+--            6 | 5 => mkWeak pat (mkRoot3 rS) ; --3=>
+            6 | 5 => mkHollow pat (mkRoot3 rS) ; --3=>
             4 | 3 => mkBilit pat (mkRoot2 rS) ; --2=>
             _ => rS ---- AR error "expected 3--6"
           }
@@ -880,10 +881,6 @@ patHollowImp : (_,_ :Str) -> Gender => Number => Str =\xaf,xAf ->
         _   => ""
       };
 
-    -- "Sun letters": assimilate with def. article
-    sun : pattern Str = #("ت"|"ث"|"د"|"ذ"|"ر"|"ز"|"س"|"ش"|"ص"|"ض"|"ط"|"ظ"|"ل"|"ن") ;
-
-    vow : pattern Str = #("َ" | "ِ" | "ُ") ;
     defArt : State -> Str -> Str = \st,stem -> -- IL -- to be checked
       let al = "ال" in
       case st of {