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Here are the shapes of the Arabic Letters
The Naughty letters do not connect to the next letter in the medial form.
Alif
Alif is a moon letter and is typically pronounced as letter “A”.
Basic Sample words of Alif in different states
Alif is only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). The basic shape of Alif takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
أسد asad-lion
فَأر fa'ar-mouse
نَبأ nabaa'- news
Alif is one of the three letters Alif ( ا ), Waaw ( و ), Yaa’ ( ي ) that might be either a consonant or a vowel letter.
In case of using the Alif as a vowel, the Hamza (ء) on the Alif is removed and only the (ا) remains. Also – as in other languages – as a vowel, it doesn’t come at the beginning of the word, it only comes in the medial or final positions.
حِصان hesaan- horse
دُنيا dunya- world
Consonant Alif always comes at the beginning of a word. And it always come with a mark called Hamza ( ء ).
Consonant Alif represents all four kinds of sounds:
Alif with a fatha: ( أَ ). We put the fatha on the top of the Hamza ( ءَ )
Might have a soft sound like A in And
أساسي asaasii- basic
أطفال attfaal- chidren
Alif with a kasra: ( إِ ). We put the kasra under the Hamza ( ءِ ). Note that in this case, the hamza comes below the Alif (ا)
It sounds like:
– E in Exam
– I in India
Alif with a damma: ( أُ ). We put the damma on the top of the Hamza ( ءُ )
It sounds like:
– O in Open or Orange.
Look-a-likes
-Alif ( ا ) might look like the connected form of the letter Laam ( لـ ) ( ـاـ ). But luckily, Laam always has an extension to the left side, but Alif never does. Alif is only connectable to the right side.
Mnemonic
Alif is a stick. It’s the letter number one and looks exactly like number one 1.
Basic Sample words of Alif in different states
Alif is only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). The basic shape of Alif takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
أسد asad-lion
فَأر fa'ar-mouse
نَبأ nabaa'- news
Alif is one of the three letters Alif ( ا ), Waaw ( و ), Yaa’ ( ي ) that might be either a consonant or a vowel letter.
In case of using the Alif as a vowel, the Hamza (ء) on the Alif is removed and only the (ا) remains. Also – as in other languages – as a vowel, it doesn’t come at the beginning of the word, it only comes in the medial or final positions.
حِصان hesaan- horse
دُنيا dunya- world
Consonant Alif always comes at the beginning of a word. And it always come with a mark called Hamza ( ء ).
Consonant Alif represents all four kinds of sounds:
Alif with a fatha: ( أَ ). We put the fatha on the top of the Hamza ( ءَ )
Might have a soft sound like A in And
أساسي asaasii- basic
أطفال attfaal- chidren
Alif with a kasra: ( إِ ). We put the kasra under the Hamza ( ءِ ). Note that in this case, the hamza comes below the Alif (ا)
It sounds like:
– E in Exam
– I in India
Alif with a damma: ( أُ ). We put the damma on the top of the Hamza ( ءُ )
It sounds like:
– O in Open or Orange.
Look-a-likes
-Alif ( ا ) might look like the connected form of the letter Laam ( لـ ) ( ـاـ ). But luckily, Laam always has an extension to the left side, but Alif never does. Alif is only connectable to the right side.
Mnemonic
Alif is a stick. It’s the letter number one and looks exactly like number one 1.
Dal
The Arabic letter Dal is a Sun Letter.
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Dal and Thal
How the Arabic letter Dal is pronounced
Dal is the counterpart of the English letter D which is pronounced by having the tip of the tongue pressed against the top of the mouth right behind the front tooth then slightly pushing air separating the tongue and upper mouth.
Basic Sample words of Dal in different states
Dal only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word
دُبّ dobb- bear
عَدس adas- lentils
barrad- fridge بَرّاد
Dal represents all four kinds of sounds. But it usually sounds soft when it comes with a fatha.
Dal with a fatha: ( دَ ) ( ـدَ ) has a soft sound like:
– Da in Dad or Dash
– Da in Medal
It may also have a gruff sound like:
– Da in Dark
Dal with a kasra: ( دِ ) ( ـدِ ) sounds like:
– De in Deep
Dal with a damma: ( دُ ) ( ـدُ ) sounds like:
– Do in Doll
Dal with sokoon: ( ـدْ ) ( ـدْ ) sounds like:
– D in Madness
– D in Good or Should
Look-a-likes
Dal and Thal are another twins or shape-mates. But Dal doesn’t have a dot.
Mnemonic
Dal and Thal look like a Right angle (90 degrees). But make it 80 to be perfect!
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Dal and Thal
How the Arabic letter Dal is pronounced
Dal is the counterpart of the English letter D which is pronounced by having the tip of the tongue pressed against the top of the mouth right behind the front tooth then slightly pushing air separating the tongue and upper mouth.
Basic Sample words of Dal in different states
Dal only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word
دُبّ dobb- bear
عَدس adas- lentils
barrad- fridge بَرّاد
Dal represents all four kinds of sounds. But it usually sounds soft when it comes with a fatha.
Dal with a fatha: ( دَ ) ( ـدَ ) has a soft sound like:
– Da in Dad or Dash
– Da in Medal
It may also have a gruff sound like:
– Da in Dark
Dal with a kasra: ( دِ ) ( ـدِ ) sounds like:
– De in Deep
Dal with a damma: ( دُ ) ( ـدُ ) sounds like:
– Do in Doll
Dal with sokoon: ( ـدْ ) ( ـدْ ) sounds like:
– D in Madness
– D in Good or Should
Look-a-likes
Dal and Thal are another twins or shape-mates. But Dal doesn’t have a dot.
Mnemonic
Dal and Thal look like a Right angle (90 degrees). But make it 80 to be perfect!
Thal
The Arabic letter Thal is a Sun Letter.
It has the same basic shape of Dal but with a dot on top.
How the Arabic letter Thal is pronounced
The letter Thal represents the other sound that the English (TH) produces (Other than the one explained in letter Tha) as in “The” or “Other” or “This”.
Basic Sample words of Thal in different states
Thal only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
ذُبابة Thobabah- a fly
يُنذر yonther- warn
رَذاذ Rathaath -mist
Thal also represents only three sounds. It is always soft and it doesn’t have a gruff sound when it comes with a fatha.
Thal with a fatha: ( ذَ ) ( ـذَ ) has a soft sound like:
– Tha in That
Thal with a kasra: ( ذِ ) ( ـذِ ) sounds like:
– Thi in This
– Thi in Clothing
Thal with a damma ( ذُ ) ( ـذُ ) sounds like:
– Tho in Those
Thal with sokoon ( ـذْ ) ( ـذْ ) sounds like:
– Th in Withdraw
Look-a-likes
Dal and Thal are another twins or shape-mates. But Dal doesn’t have a dot.
Mnemonic
Dal and Thal look like a Right angle (90 degrees). But make it 80 to be perfect!
It has the same basic shape of Dal but with a dot on top.
How the Arabic letter Thal is pronounced
The letter Thal represents the other sound that the English (TH) produces (Other than the one explained in letter Tha) as in “The” or “Other” or “This”.
Basic Sample words of Thal in different states
Thal only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
ذُبابة Thobabah- a fly
يُنذر yonther- warn
رَذاذ Rathaath -mist
Thal also represents only three sounds. It is always soft and it doesn’t have a gruff sound when it comes with a fatha.
Thal with a fatha: ( ذَ ) ( ـذَ ) has a soft sound like:
– Tha in That
Thal with a kasra: ( ذِ ) ( ـذِ ) sounds like:
– Thi in This
– Thi in Clothing
Thal with a damma ( ذُ ) ( ـذُ ) sounds like:
– Tho in Those
Thal with sokoon ( ـذْ ) ( ـذْ ) sounds like:
– Th in Withdraw
Look-a-likes
Dal and Thal are another twins or shape-mates. But Dal doesn’t have a dot.
Mnemonic
Dal and Thal look like a Right angle (90 degrees). But make it 80 to be perfect!
Raa'
The Arabic letter Raa' is a Sun Letter.
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Raa' and Zay.
How the Arabic letter Raa' is pronounced
Raa' is sort of like the counterpart of the English letter R but it is closer to the rolling Spanish Rr.
The Raa' uses the tip of the tongue and the top of the tip and the gums of the two top incisors, but the trick to the Raa' is actually hitting the gum.
Basic Sample words of Raa' in different states
Raa' is only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
رِيشة reeshah- feather
كُرة korah-ball
عِطر ettr-perfume
Word examples using the letter Ra with diacritics
Ra represents only three kinds of sounds. It always produces a gruff sound when it comes with a fatha.
Raa' with a fatha: ( رَ ) ( ـرَ ) always has a gruff sound like”
– Ru in Rubber
– Ra in Giraffe
It never produces a soft sound like ra in Rat
with a kasra: ( رِ ) ( ـرِ ) sounds like:
– Re in Red
– Ri in Marine
Raa' with a damma: ( رُ ) ( ـرُ ) sounds like:
– Ro in Root
– Ro in Miror
Raa' with sokoon: ( ـرْ ) ( ـرْ ) sounds like:
– R in Market
Look-a-likes
Raa' ( ر ) and Zay ( ز ) are another twins or shape-mates.
They also look a bit like a letter called Wow ( و ) that we will talk about later.
Mnemonic
Raa' and Zay look exactly like Bananas ( ر ز )!
It has a basic shape that is common for the two letters; Raa' and Zay.
How the Arabic letter Raa' is pronounced
Raa' is sort of like the counterpart of the English letter R but it is closer to the rolling Spanish Rr.
The Raa' uses the tip of the tongue and the top of the tip and the gums of the two top incisors, but the trick to the Raa' is actually hitting the gum.
Basic Sample words of Raa' in different states
Raa' is only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
رِيشة reeshah- feather
كُرة korah-ball
عِطر ettr-perfume
Word examples using the letter Ra with diacritics
Ra represents only three kinds of sounds. It always produces a gruff sound when it comes with a fatha.
Raa' with a fatha: ( رَ ) ( ـرَ ) always has a gruff sound like”
– Ru in Rubber
– Ra in Giraffe
It never produces a soft sound like ra in Rat
with a kasra: ( رِ ) ( ـرِ ) sounds like:
– Re in Red
– Ri in Marine
Raa' with a damma: ( رُ ) ( ـرُ ) sounds like:
– Ro in Root
– Ro in Miror
Raa' with sokoon: ( ـرْ ) ( ـرْ ) sounds like:
– R in Market
Look-a-likes
Raa' ( ر ) and Zay ( ز ) are another twins or shape-mates.
They also look a bit like a letter called Wow ( و ) that we will talk about later.
Mnemonic
Raa' and Zay look exactly like Bananas ( ر ز )!
Zay
The Arabic letter Zay is a Sun Letter.
It follows the same basic shape of Raa' but with a dot on top.
How the Arabic letter Zay is pronounced
Zay is the counterpart of the English letter Z so it is pronounced like the Z in “Zoom”.
Basic Sample words of Zay in different states
Zay is only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
زُجاج zojaj- glass
مَنزل manzil-house
مَوز mawz-banana
Zay also represents only three sounds. It is always soft and it doesn’t have a gruff sound when it comes with a fatha.
Zay with a fatha: ( زَ ) ( ـزَ ) has a soft sound like Za in Zambia. Or like za in Zigzag.
Zay with a kasra: ( زِ ) ( ـزِ ) sounds like Zi in Zigzag. Or like zi in Brazil.
Zay with a damma: ( زُ ) ( ـزُ ) sounds like Zo in Zoo. Or like zo in Bazooka.
Zay with sokoon: ( ـزْ ) ( ـزْ ) It sounds like z in Mazda. Or like z in Quiz.
Look-a-likes
Raa' ( ر ) and Zay ( ز ) are another twins or shape-mates.
They also look a bit like a letter called Wow ( و ) that we will talk about later.
Mnemonic
Raa' and Zay look exactly like Bananas ( ر ز )!
It follows the same basic shape of Raa' but with a dot on top.
How the Arabic letter Zay is pronounced
Zay is the counterpart of the English letter Z so it is pronounced like the Z in “Zoom”.
Basic Sample words of Zay in different states
Zay is only connectable to the letter before (the letter to the right). It takes these three forms depending on its position in the word:
زُجاج zojaj- glass
مَنزل manzil-house
مَوز mawz-banana
Zay also represents only three sounds. It is always soft and it doesn’t have a gruff sound when it comes with a fatha.
Zay with a fatha: ( زَ ) ( ـزَ ) has a soft sound like Za in Zambia. Or like za in Zigzag.
Zay with a kasra: ( زِ ) ( ـزِ ) sounds like Zi in Zigzag. Or like zi in Brazil.
Zay with a damma: ( زُ ) ( ـزُ ) sounds like Zo in Zoo. Or like zo in Bazooka.
Zay with sokoon: ( ـزْ ) ( ـزْ ) It sounds like z in Mazda. Or like z in Quiz.
Look-a-likes
Raa' ( ر ) and Zay ( ز ) are another twins or shape-mates.
They also look a bit like a letter called Wow ( و ) that we will talk about later.
Mnemonic
Raa' and Zay look exactly like Bananas ( ر ز )!
Wow
The Arabic letter Wow is a Moon Letter.
How the Arabic letter Wow is pronounced
Wow is the counterpart of the English letter W but also can make sounds like O and U.
Wow is only connectable
to the letter before (the letter to the right)
Wow is one of the three letters Alif ( أ ), Wow ( و ), Ya ( ي ) that might be either a consonant or a vowel letter.
Basic Sample words of Wow in different states:
وَردة wardah- rose
ضَوء dawa'-light
مانجوmango- mango
Consonant Wow could come at the beginning, middle or at the end of a word and it represents all four kinds of sounds:
Wow with a fatha: ( وَ ) ( ـوَ ) has a soft sound like:
– Wa in Wax
Or it may have a gruff sound like:
– Wa in Wallet
– Wha in What
– wa in Swan
Wow with a kasra: ( وِ ) ( ـوِ ) sounds like:
– We in Wedding
– Wi in Wizard
– we in Halloween
Wow with a damma: ( وُ ) ( ـوُ ) sounds like:
– Wo in Wood or Woman
– wo in Network
Wow with sokoon: ( ـوْ ) ( ـوْ ) sounds like:
– w in Down
– u in South
– w in Now
Vowel Wow usually comes at the middle of the word.
It always come with sokoon and the letter before it always come with a damma:
Medial vowel Wow sounds like:
– oo in Spoon or Balloon
ورودworood- roses
Wow serves an additional functions in Arabic. It is the only letter that has a meaning when it’s written on its own: Wow with a fatha ( وَ ) is “wa” which means the word “And”.
Look-a-likes
Wow ( و ) has a banana-like shape, like the twins Raa' ( ر ) and Zay ( ز ). And it can also be considered as a part of drawing the letter Qaf ( ق ).
Mnemonic
Wow looks exactly like number 9.
How the Arabic letter Wow is pronounced
Wow is the counterpart of the English letter W but also can make sounds like O and U.
Wow is only connectable
to the letter before (the letter to the right)
Wow is one of the three letters Alif ( أ ), Wow ( و ), Ya ( ي ) that might be either a consonant or a vowel letter.
Basic Sample words of Wow in different states:
وَردة wardah- rose
ضَوء dawa'-light
مانجوmango- mango
Consonant Wow could come at the beginning, middle or at the end of a word and it represents all four kinds of sounds:
Wow with a fatha: ( وَ ) ( ـوَ ) has a soft sound like:
– Wa in Wax
Or it may have a gruff sound like:
– Wa in Wallet
– Wha in What
– wa in Swan
Wow with a kasra: ( وِ ) ( ـوِ ) sounds like:
– We in Wedding
– Wi in Wizard
– we in Halloween
Wow with a damma: ( وُ ) ( ـوُ ) sounds like:
– Wo in Wood or Woman
– wo in Network
Wow with sokoon: ( ـوْ ) ( ـوْ ) sounds like:
– w in Down
– u in South
– w in Now
Vowel Wow usually comes at the middle of the word.
It always come with sokoon and the letter before it always come with a damma:
Medial vowel Wow sounds like:
– oo in Spoon or Balloon
ورودworood- roses
Wow serves an additional functions in Arabic. It is the only letter that has a meaning when it’s written on its own: Wow with a fatha ( وَ ) is “wa” which means the word “And”.
Look-a-likes
Wow ( و ) has a banana-like shape, like the twins Raa' ( ر ) and Zay ( ز ). And it can also be considered as a part of drawing the letter Qaf ( ق ).
Mnemonic
Wow looks exactly like number 9.
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