Level 3 · The Arabic alphabet
All 28 letters, honestly explained
Every letter with its four written forms, its harakat vowels, and three Quran words to spot it in. 10 of the 28 make sounds English simply does not have, those pages tell you the truth and teach the articulation instead of a lookalike.
Work in order, the letters are grouped by shape families, or jump straight to the new sounds if you already read a little.
- اAlifThe long "aa", as in father.
- بBaB as in book.
- تTaT as in table, but lighter.
- ثThaTh as in think.
- جJimJ as in jam.
- حHaaA deep, breathy H. English does not have it.New sound
- خKhaThe rasping kh of Scottish "loch". Not an English sound.New sound
- دDalD as in door.
- ذDhalTh as in this, voiced.
- رRaA rolled r, like Spanish r.New sound
- زZayZ as in zoo.
- سSinS as in sun.
- شShinSh as in ship.
- صSadA heavy, full-mouthed S. English does not have it.New sound
- ضDadA heavy, full-mouthed D. Famously unique to Arabic.New sound
- طTaaA heavy, full-mouthed T. English does not have it.New sound
- ظDhaaA heavy th of "this". English does not have it.New sound
- عAynA squeezed sound from deep in the throat. Nothing like it in English.New sound
- غGhaynA gargled, French-r sound. English does not have it.New sound
- فFaF as in fish.
- قQafA deep k from the very back of the throat. English does not have it.New sound
- كKafK as in kite.
- لLamL as in lamp.
- مMimM as in moon.
- نNunN as in noon.
- هHaH as in house, soft and light.
- وWawW as in water, and the long "oo".
- يYaY as in yes, and the long "ee".
Keep going
Practice with the full Quran, word by word, in the Barakah Life app
Every ayah with word-by-word meaning, transliteration, and audio you can slow down. What you just learned here, you can practise on the whole mushaf.
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