Arabic Letters — الحروف الهجائية
Tap any letter or example to hear it pronounced.
Group 1
Alif
ā / '
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Jauf — empty cavity of mouth & throat
Ba
b
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Shafatain — both lips pressed together
Ta
t
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue against upper front teeth
☀ Sun letterTha
th
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue between the teeth
☀ Sun letterGroup 2
Jeem
j
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Middle of tongue against upper palate
Ha (guttural)
ḥ
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Middle of the throat
Kha
kh
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Top of throat near the soft palate
Group 3
Dal
d
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue against upper teeth roots
Dhal
dh
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue between the teeth
☀ Sun letterRa
r
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Near tip of tongue at the gum ridge
Zay
z
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue near upper front teeth
☀ Sun letterGroup 4
Seen
s
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue near lower front teeth
☀ Sun letterSheen
sh
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Middle of tongue against upper palate
☀ Sun letterGroup 5
Saad
ṣ
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue + upper teeth (heavy/emphatic)
Daad
ḍ
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Side of tongue against upper molars
Group 6
Taa (heavy)
ṭ
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue + upper teeth roots (heavy)
Dha (heavy)
ẓ
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue between teeth (heavy)
Group 7
Ain
ʿ
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Middle of the throat (constricted)
Ghain
gh
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Top of throat near soft palate (voiced)
Group 8
Fa
f
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Lower lip against upper front teeth
☾ Moon letterQaaf
q
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Back of tongue against soft palate
Group 9
Kaaf
k
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Back of tongue slightly forward from soft palate
☾ Moon letterLaam
l
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip and sides of tongue near upper teeth
☀ Sun letterMeem
m
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Both lips closed with nasal resonance
☾ Moon letterNoon
n
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Tip of tongue + upper teeth + nasal passage
☀ Sun letterGroup 10
Haa (soft)
h
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Lowest part of the throat
Waw
w / ū
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Both lips (rounded) / Jauf as elongation vowel
Yaa
y / ī
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Middle of tongue against upper palate / Jauf as elongation vowel
Hamza
ʔ / '
Letter Forms
Articulation point: Lowest part of the throat (glottal stop)