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Here are the shapes of the Arabic Letters
The constant forms behave roughly the same way no matter what position they are in.
Seen
The Arabic letter Seen is a Sun Letter.
Seen is the counterpart of the English letter S.
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Seen and Sheen.
Seen is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
سَقف saqf- ceiling
حَاسبة hasebah-clculator
شَمس shams-sun
Seen represents only three kinds of sounds. It always produces a soft sound when it comes with a fatha.
It doesn’t produce a gruff sound because it has a sound-mate which does this job for it; Saad ( ص ).
Seen with a fatha: ( سَـ ) ( ـسَـ ) has a soft sound like:
– Sa in Sand
Seen with a kasra: ( سِـ ) ( ـسِـ ) sounds like:
– Se in Sea
Seen with a damma: ( سُـ( ـسُـ ) sounds like:
– So in Solution
Seen with sokoon: ( ـسْـ ) ( ـسْ ) sounds like:
– S in Best
Look-a-likes
Seen ( س ) and Sheen ( ش ) are shape-mates. And they also look a bit like the next two letters Saad ( ص ) and Daad ( ض ).
The Initial form of Seen ( ســ ) looks like a toothbrush. And the Initial form of Sheen ( شــ ) seems like a toothbrush with some toothpaste on!
The word toothbrush means in Arabic “فرشَــاة أسْــنان” (forrshaat assnaan) and it contains both letters.
Seen is the counterpart of the English letter S.
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Seen and Sheen.
Seen is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
سَقف saqf- ceiling
حَاسبة hasebah-clculator
شَمس shams-sun
Seen represents only three kinds of sounds. It always produces a soft sound when it comes with a fatha.
It doesn’t produce a gruff sound because it has a sound-mate which does this job for it; Saad ( ص ).
Seen with a fatha: ( سَـ ) ( ـسَـ ) has a soft sound like:
– Sa in Sand
Seen with a kasra: ( سِـ ) ( ـسِـ ) sounds like:
– Se in Sea
Seen with a damma: ( سُـ( ـسُـ ) sounds like:
– So in Solution
Seen with sokoon: ( ـسْـ ) ( ـسْ ) sounds like:
– S in Best
Look-a-likes
Seen ( س ) and Sheen ( ش ) are shape-mates. And they also look a bit like the next two letters Saad ( ص ) and Daad ( ض ).
The Initial form of Seen ( ســ ) looks like a toothbrush. And the Initial form of Sheen ( شــ ) seems like a toothbrush with some toothpaste on!
The word toothbrush means in Arabic “فرشَــاة أسْــنان” (forrshaat assnaan) and it contains both letters.
Sheen
The Arabic letter Sheen is a Sun Letter.
How the Arabic letter Sheen is pronounced
Sheen represents the English sound SH in “Shell” which has an unvoiced sound which is created by forcing air between a wide groove in the center of the front of the tongue and the back of the tooth ridge. The sides of the blade of the tongue may touch the side teeth. The lips are kept slightly tense, and may protrude somewhat during the production of the sound.
Basic Sample words of Sheen in different states
Sheen is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
It follows the same basic shape of Seen but with three dots on top.
شَجَر Shajar-trees
مِنشفة menshafah- towel
فِراش ferash-bed
Sheen with a fatha: ( شَـ ) ( ـشَـ ) has a soft sound like:
– Sha in Shadow
Or it can have a gruff sound like Sha in Shark
Sheen with a kasra: ( شِـ ) ( ـشِـ ) sounds like:
– Shi in Ship
Sheen with a damma: ( شُـ ) ( ـشُـ ) sounds like:
– Sho in Shoe or Shop
Sheen with sokoon: ( ـشْـ ) ( ـشْ ) sounds like:
– sh in Mushroom
Look-a-likes
Seen ( س ) and Sheen ( ش ) are shape-mates. And they also look a bit like the next two letters Saad ( ص ) and Daad ( ض ).
Mnemonic
The Initial form of Seen ( ســ ) looks like a toothbrush. And the Initial form of Sheen ( شــ ) seems like a toothbrush with some toothpaste on!
The word toothbrush means in Arabic “فرشَــاة أسْــنان” (forrshaat assnaan) and it contains both letters.
How the Arabic letter Sheen is pronounced
Sheen represents the English sound SH in “Shell” which has an unvoiced sound which is created by forcing air between a wide groove in the center of the front of the tongue and the back of the tooth ridge. The sides of the blade of the tongue may touch the side teeth. The lips are kept slightly tense, and may protrude somewhat during the production of the sound.
Basic Sample words of Sheen in different states
Sheen is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
It follows the same basic shape of Seen but with three dots on top.
شَجَر Shajar-trees
مِنشفة menshafah- towel
فِراش ferash-bed
Sheen with a fatha: ( شَـ ) ( ـشَـ ) has a soft sound like:
– Sha in Shadow
Or it can have a gruff sound like Sha in Shark
Sheen with a kasra: ( شِـ ) ( ـشِـ ) sounds like:
– Shi in Ship
Sheen with a damma: ( شُـ ) ( ـشُـ ) sounds like:
– Sho in Shoe or Shop
Sheen with sokoon: ( ـشْـ ) ( ـشْ ) sounds like:
– sh in Mushroom
Look-a-likes
Seen ( س ) and Sheen ( ش ) are shape-mates. And they also look a bit like the next two letters Saad ( ص ) and Daad ( ض ).
Mnemonic
The Initial form of Seen ( ســ ) looks like a toothbrush. And the Initial form of Sheen ( شــ ) seems like a toothbrush with some toothpaste on!
The word toothbrush means in Arabic “فرشَــاة أسْــنان” (forrshaat assnaan) and it contains both letters.
Saad
The Arabic letter Saad is a Sun Letter.
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Saad and Daad.
How the Arabic letter Saad is pronounced
Saad is the sound-mate of the letter Seen ( س ) and makes a gruff s sound that is not really found in English.
To pronounce Saad correctly you must press your tongue against your upper gum area, right where the gum meets your upper teeth and then make an s sound.
Basic Sample words of Saad in different states
Saad is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
صَقر Saqr- falcon
عَصير aseer-juice
قُرص qors-tablet
We’ve already learned that the letter Seen (س ) represents only three kinds of sounds; all of them are soft.
These are some English examples that have close sounds to Saad:
Supper – Subject – Submarine – Sun – Just – Plus – Bus – genius
It would be acceptable if you pronounce it like these examples, but just try to give it a little bit more gruffness.
Saad with a fatha: ( صَـ ) ( ـصَـ )sa
Saad with a kasra: ( صِـ ) ( ـصِـ )se
Saad with a damma: ( صُـ ) ( ـصُـ )so
Saad with sokoon: ( ـصْـ ) ( ـصْ )s
Look-a-likes
Saad ( ص ) and Daad ( ض ) are shape-mates. And they also look a bit like the previous two letters Seen ( س) and Sheen ( ش ).
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Saad and Daad.
How the Arabic letter Saad is pronounced
Saad is the sound-mate of the letter Seen ( س ) and makes a gruff s sound that is not really found in English.
To pronounce Saad correctly you must press your tongue against your upper gum area, right where the gum meets your upper teeth and then make an s sound.
Basic Sample words of Saad in different states
Saad is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
صَقر Saqr- falcon
عَصير aseer-juice
قُرص qors-tablet
We’ve already learned that the letter Seen (س ) represents only three kinds of sounds; all of them are soft.
These are some English examples that have close sounds to Saad:
Supper – Subject – Submarine – Sun – Just – Plus – Bus – genius
It would be acceptable if you pronounce it like these examples, but just try to give it a little bit more gruffness.
Saad with a fatha: ( صَـ ) ( ـصَـ )sa
Saad with a kasra: ( صِـ ) ( ـصِـ )se
Saad with a damma: ( صُـ ) ( ـصُـ )so
Saad with sokoon: ( ـصْـ ) ( ـصْ )s
Look-a-likes
Saad ( ص ) and Daad ( ض ) are shape-mates. And they also look a bit like the previous two letters Seen ( س) and Sheen ( ش ).
Daad
The Arabic letter Daad is a Sun Letter.
It follows the same basic shape of Saad but with a dot on top.
How the Arabic letter Daad is pronounced
Daad is the sound-mate of the letter Dal ( د ) and makes a gruff d sound that is not really found in English.
To pronounce Daad correctly you must press your tongue against your upper gum area, right where the gum meets your upper teeth and then make a d sound.
Basic Sample words of Daad in different states
Daad is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
ضَبعdaba- hyena
مِنضدة mendadah- table
بَيض bayd-eggs
Just like Saad, you could say that Daad is also the counterpart of the English letter D. But technically that would be wrong because it’s degree of gruffness doesn’t really exist in English words.
These are some English examples that have close sounds to Daad:
Double – Dumbbell – Product – Study – Adult – Fund – Mud
Those are really close sounds, but just try to give it a little bit more gruffness.
Daad with a fatha: ( ضَـ ) ( ـضَـ ) da
Daad with a kasra: ( ضِـ ) ( ـضِـ )de
Daad with a damma: ( ضُـ ) ( ـضُـ )do
Daad with sokoon: ( ـضْـ ) ( ـضْ )d
Look-a-likes
Saad ( ص ) and Daad ( ض ) are shape-mates. And they also look a bit like the previous two letters Seen ( س ) and Sheen ( ش ).
It follows the same basic shape of Saad but with a dot on top.
How the Arabic letter Daad is pronounced
Daad is the sound-mate of the letter Dal ( د ) and makes a gruff d sound that is not really found in English.
To pronounce Daad correctly you must press your tongue against your upper gum area, right where the gum meets your upper teeth and then make a d sound.
Basic Sample words of Daad in different states
Daad is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
ضَبعdaba- hyena
مِنضدة mendadah- table
بَيض bayd-eggs
Just like Saad, you could say that Daad is also the counterpart of the English letter D. But technically that would be wrong because it’s degree of gruffness doesn’t really exist in English words.
These are some English examples that have close sounds to Daad:
Double – Dumbbell – Product – Study – Adult – Fund – Mud
Those are really close sounds, but just try to give it a little bit more gruffness.
Daad with a fatha: ( ضَـ ) ( ـضَـ ) da
Daad with a kasra: ( ضِـ ) ( ـضِـ )de
Daad with a damma: ( ضُـ ) ( ـضُـ )do
Daad with sokoon: ( ـضْـ ) ( ـضْ )d
Look-a-likes
Saad ( ص ) and Daad ( ض ) are shape-mates. And they also look a bit like the previous two letters Seen ( س ) and Sheen ( ش ).
Taa'
The Arabic letter Taa' is a Sun Letter.
How the Arabic letter Taa' is pronounced:
Taa' is the sound-mate of the letter Ta ( ت ) and makes a gruff T sound that is not really found in English.
To pronounce Taa' correctly you must press your tongue against your upper gum area, right where the gum meets your upper teeth and then make a T sound.
Basic Sample words of Taa' in different states
Taa' is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Taa' and Thaa'
طاووسtawoos)peacock)
بطريق betreeq- penguin
وطواطwotwat-bat
If Ta ( ت ) is the soft sound- mate, then Toh is the gruff one. It only represents three sounds, and all of them are gruff. Never has a soft sound when it comes with fatha.
And just like the previous two letters, the degree of gruffness of Toh doesn’t really exist in English words. But you can consider it as a second counterpart of the English letter T.
Some English examples that have close sounds to Toh:
Ton – Tough – Tongue – Tomato – Bottle – Bottom – Hunt – Aunt
Try to give it a little bit more gruffness.
Taa' with a fatha: ( طَـ ) ( ـطَـ )ta
Taa' with a kasra: ( طِـ ) ( ـطِـ )te
Taa' with a damma: ( طُـ ) ( ـطُـ )to
Taa' with sokoon: ( ـطْـ ) ( ـطْ )t
Look-a-likes
Toh and Thoh look like the previous twin Saad and Daad but with some differences.
Mnemonic
Taa' and Thaa' have the exact shape of the first half of Saad and Daad. It’s like a sharp-end Alif that fell on a Saad or a Daad and split it in a half!
How the Arabic letter Taa' is pronounced:
Taa' is the sound-mate of the letter Ta ( ت ) and makes a gruff T sound that is not really found in English.
To pronounce Taa' correctly you must press your tongue against your upper gum area, right where the gum meets your upper teeth and then make a T sound.
Basic Sample words of Taa' in different states
Taa' is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Taa' and Thaa'
طاووسtawoos)peacock)
بطريق betreeq- penguin
وطواطwotwat-bat
If Ta ( ت ) is the soft sound- mate, then Toh is the gruff one. It only represents three sounds, and all of them are gruff. Never has a soft sound when it comes with fatha.
And just like the previous two letters, the degree of gruffness of Toh doesn’t really exist in English words. But you can consider it as a second counterpart of the English letter T.
Some English examples that have close sounds to Toh:
Ton – Tough – Tongue – Tomato – Bottle – Bottom – Hunt – Aunt
Try to give it a little bit more gruffness.
Taa' with a fatha: ( طَـ ) ( ـطَـ )ta
Taa' with a kasra: ( طِـ ) ( ـطِـ )te
Taa' with a damma: ( طُـ ) ( ـطُـ )to
Taa' with sokoon: ( ـطْـ ) ( ـطْ )t
Look-a-likes
Toh and Thoh look like the previous twin Saad and Daad but with some differences.
Mnemonic
Taa' and Thaa' have the exact shape of the first half of Saad and Daad. It’s like a sharp-end Alif that fell on a Saad or a Daad and split it in a half!
Thaa'
The Arabic letter Thaa' is a Sun Letter.
Thaa' with a kasra: ( ظِـ ) ( ـظِـ )the
It follows the same basic shape of Taa' but with a dot on top.
How the Arabic letter Thoh is pronounced
Thoh is the sound-mate of the letter Thal ( ذ ) and makes a gruff Th sound that is not really found in English.
To pronounce Thoh correctly you must press your tongue against your upper gum area, right where the gum meets your upper teeth and then make a T sound.
Basic Sample words of Thaa' in different states
Thaa' is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
ظَرف tharf- envelope
عظمة athmah- bone
غيظ gayth- rage
We’ve learned the letter Thal ( ذ ) should only represent three kinds of sounds. All of them are soft and it doesn’t produce a gruff sound when it comes with a fatha. On the other hand, Thaa' represents another three similar sounds, but all of them are gruff.
And like Thal, you could say that Thaa' is also the counterpart of the English (TH) but technically,that would be wrong because its degree of gruffness doesn’t really exist in English words.
Thaa' with a fatha: ( ظَـ ) ( ـظَـ )tha
Thaa' with a damma: ( ظُـ ) ( ـظُـ )tho
Thaa' with sokoon: ( ـظْـ ) ( ـظْ )th
Look-a-likes
Taa’ and Thaa’ look like the previous twin Saad and Daad but with some differences.
Mnemonic
Taa’ and Thaa’ have the exact shape of the first half of Saad and Daad. It’s like a sharp-end Alif that fell on a Saad or a Daad and split it in a half!
Thaa' with a kasra: ( ظِـ ) ( ـظِـ )the
It follows the same basic shape of Taa' but with a dot on top.
How the Arabic letter Thoh is pronounced
Thoh is the sound-mate of the letter Thal ( ذ ) and makes a gruff Th sound that is not really found in English.
To pronounce Thoh correctly you must press your tongue against your upper gum area, right where the gum meets your upper teeth and then make a T sound.
Basic Sample words of Thaa' in different states
Thaa' is connectable to both sides. It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
ظَرف tharf- envelope
عظمة athmah- bone
غيظ gayth- rage
We’ve learned the letter Thal ( ذ ) should only represent three kinds of sounds. All of them are soft and it doesn’t produce a gruff sound when it comes with a fatha. On the other hand, Thaa' represents another three similar sounds, but all of them are gruff.
And like Thal, you could say that Thaa' is also the counterpart of the English (TH) but technically,that would be wrong because its degree of gruffness doesn’t really exist in English words.
Thaa' with a fatha: ( ظَـ ) ( ـظَـ )tha
Thaa' with a damma: ( ظُـ ) ( ـظُـ )tho
Thaa' with sokoon: ( ـظْـ ) ( ـظْ )th
Look-a-likes
Taa’ and Thaa’ look like the previous twin Saad and Daad but with some differences.
Mnemonic
Taa’ and Thaa’ have the exact shape of the first half of Saad and Daad. It’s like a sharp-end Alif that fell on a Saad or a Daad and split it in a half!
Faa'
The Arabic letter Fa is a Moon Letter.
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Fa and Qaf.
How the Arabic letter Fa is pronounced
This is an easy one. Fa is the counterpart of the English sounds F and PH that are pronounced by pressing the top front teeth against the bottom lip and releasing as you blow air out.
Basic Sample words of Fa in different states
Fa is connectable to both sides. It take these three forms depending on its position in the word:
فَراولة farawelah- strawberry
مدفأة medfaah- heater
معطف maetaf -coat
Fa represents all four kinds of sounds.
Fa with a fatha: ( فَـ ) ( ـفَـ ) has a soft sound like:
– Fa in Fat
– pha in Elephant
Or it might have a gruff sound like:
– Fa in Father or Far
Fa with a kasra: ( فِـ ) ( ـفِـ ) sounds like:
– Fi in Finger
– Fe in Fear
Fa with a damma: ( فُـ ) ( ـفُـ ) sounds like:
– Fo in Food or Football
– fo in Before
Fa with sokoon: ( ـفْـ ) ( ـفْ ) sounds like:
– f in Left
– f in Roof or Belief
Look-a-likes
Fa ( ف ) is the shape-mate of the next letter Qaaf ( ق ). They might look a bit different in the Isolated form. Where Fa has a straight base but Qaaf has a circular base.
But they are very similar in the connected forms especially the Initial ( فـ ) ( قـ ) and Medial ( ـفـ ) ( ـقـ ) forms. As you can see, the difference is only in the number of dots.
The Isolated form of Fa ( ف ) also look a bit similar to the group of Ba ( ب ), Ta ( ت ) and Tha ( ث ). But not the connected form.
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Fa and Qaf.
How the Arabic letter Fa is pronounced
This is an easy one. Fa is the counterpart of the English sounds F and PH that are pronounced by pressing the top front teeth against the bottom lip and releasing as you blow air out.
Basic Sample words of Fa in different states
Fa is connectable to both sides. It take these three forms depending on its position in the word:
فَراولة farawelah- strawberry
مدفأة medfaah- heater
معطف maetaf -coat
Fa represents all four kinds of sounds.
Fa with a fatha: ( فَـ ) ( ـفَـ ) has a soft sound like:
– Fa in Fat
– pha in Elephant
Or it might have a gruff sound like:
– Fa in Father or Far
Fa with a kasra: ( فِـ ) ( ـفِـ ) sounds like:
– Fi in Finger
– Fe in Fear
Fa with a damma: ( فُـ ) ( ـفُـ ) sounds like:
– Fo in Food or Football
– fo in Before
Fa with sokoon: ( ـفْـ ) ( ـفْ ) sounds like:
– f in Left
– f in Roof or Belief
Look-a-likes
Fa ( ف ) is the shape-mate of the next letter Qaaf ( ق ). They might look a bit different in the Isolated form. Where Fa has a straight base but Qaaf has a circular base.
But they are very similar in the connected forms especially the Initial ( فـ ) ( قـ ) and Medial ( ـفـ ) ( ـقـ ) forms. As you can see, the difference is only in the number of dots.
The Isolated form of Fa ( ف ) also look a bit similar to the group of Ba ( ب ), Ta ( ت ) and Tha ( ث ). But not the connected form.
Qaaf
The Arabic letter Qaf is a Moon Letter.
It follows the same basic shape of Fa but with an additional dot.
Basic Sample words of Qaf in different states.
قَمَر qamar -moon
بَقَرة baqarah- caw
وَرَق waraq- papers
Qaf is a gruff letter that only represent three gruff sounds. It never sound soft when it comes with a fatha.
Qaf with a fatha: ( قَـ) ( ـقَـ )qa
-Qaf with a kasra: ( قِـ) ( ـقِـ )qe
– remember to keep the gruffness even when it is with a kasra. Or else, it would turn into a Kaafy.
Qaf with a damma: ( قُـ) ( ـقُـ )qu or qo
– Like in the name of the holy book of Muslims ( Quran ). “Quran” should also begin with a gruff Qaf not a soft Kaf. It is written as ( قُـرآن ) not ( كُـرآن )
-Qaf with sokoon: ( ـقْـ) ( ـقْ )q
– The Final form might sound close to “knock knock” or “truck”. But still, it need a bit more gruffness to be perfect.
Fa ( ف ) is the shape-mate of the next letter Qaaf ( ق ). They might look a bit different in the Isolated form. Where Fa has a straight base but Qaaf has a circular base.
But they are very similar in the connected forms especially the Initial ( فـ ) ( قـ ) and Medial ( ـفـ ) ( ـقـ ) forms. As you can see, the difference is only in the number of dots.
Qaf also look like number 9 with a circular extension to the left side
It follows the same basic shape of Fa but with an additional dot.
Basic Sample words of Qaf in different states.
قَمَر qamar -moon
بَقَرة baqarah- caw
وَرَق waraq- papers
Qaf is a gruff letter that only represent three gruff sounds. It never sound soft when it comes with a fatha.
Qaf with a fatha: ( قَـ) ( ـقَـ )qa
-Qaf with a kasra: ( قِـ) ( ـقِـ )qe
– remember to keep the gruffness even when it is with a kasra. Or else, it would turn into a Kaafy.
Qaf with a damma: ( قُـ) ( ـقُـ )qu or qo
– Like in the name of the holy book of Muslims ( Quran ). “Quran” should also begin with a gruff Qaf not a soft Kaf. It is written as ( قُـرآن ) not ( كُـرآن )
-Qaf with sokoon: ( ـقْـ) ( ـقْ )q
– The Final form might sound close to “knock knock” or “truck”. But still, it need a bit more gruffness to be perfect.
Fa ( ف ) is the shape-mate of the next letter Qaaf ( ق ). They might look a bit different in the Isolated form. Where Fa has a straight base but Qaaf has a circular base.
But they are very similar in the connected forms especially the Initial ( فـ ) ( قـ ) and Medial ( ـفـ ) ( ـقـ ) forms. As you can see, the difference is only in the number of dots.
Qaf also look like number 9 with a circular extension to the left side
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