Arabic Letters and Sounds

Arabic Letter / Called / Transliteration / English Equivilent / Description

jiim / giim j / g

J / G

DHaa'/Zaa' DH or Z

N/E

taa marbuuTa h

'alif is a long "a" sound as in the word "salaam" or as in "pawn".

baa' is the equivilent of the English letter "b". It is pronounced like the "b" in "basket".

taa' is one of two "t" sounds, this one is almost like a little "t". It is pronounced like the "t" in "tan".

thaa' is pronounced like the "th" in the words "thought" and "thanks".

Jiim is pronounced like the English "j" such as in the names "Jamal" and "Jill". If you say it with an Egyptian accent it is pronounced like the English "g" like in the word "give" or in the name "Gamal".

Haa' has no exact equivilent in the English language. It is similar to an "h" but it's heavier. When you are trying to pronounce it try panting while saying "ha".

khaa' has no English equivilent. The closest translation would be to pronounce it like the "ch" in the Scottish word "loch."

daal is similar to the English "d". It is pronounced like the "d" in the word "doll" or in "dead".

dhal has no english equivilent. It is somewhat similar to a "z" but not exactly. Try saying "z" with a "d" in front of it "dz".

raa' is similar to the rolled "r" in Spanish. As in the word arriba.

zaay is similar to the english "z". it is pronounced like the "z" in the word zoo or zill.

siin is similar to the english "s". It is pronounced as the "s" in the words seen and sew.

Short Vowels

and other specialty marks

بَ

fatHa

fatHa is the short vowel sound for "a". It is represtented by a slanted line over the top of a letter as shown above. In this example you would say "ba", like in the following example:

ِِبَيْنَ

This example says "bayna", which means between in Arabic.

بُ

Damma

Damma is the short vowel sound for "o". It is represented by a little looped symbol over the top of the letter as shown above. In this example you would say "bu", like in the following example:

بُنّ

This example says "bunn" or "boonn", which means coffee beans in Arabic

بِ

kasra

kasra is the short vowel sound for "i". It is represtented by a slanted line under the letter as shown above. In this example you would say "bi", like in the following example:

بِنْت

This example says "bint", which means girl in Arabic.

بْ

sukuun

sukuun is the absence of a vowel sound. It is represtented by a circle over the letter as shown above. In this example you would say "b", like in the following example:

تِبْن

This example says "tibn", which means hay in Arabic.

نّ

shadda

shadda is not a vowel sound. It is a mark that tells you to double the letter it is over. This is not the same as a double letter in English. A double letter in english like the "tt" in bottle does not exist in Arabic. A double letter in Arabic means that you say the letter holding the sound twice as long It is represtented by a "w" shape as shown above. In this example you would say "nn", like in the following example:

بُنّ

This example says "bunn", which means coffee beans in Arabic.

بً

tanwiin al-fatHa

tanwiin al-fatHa is somewhere between a vowel and a suffix. It is represtented by a double slanted line over the top of a letter as shown above. tanwiin al-fatHa only appears at the end of a word and is basicly used only in Quaranic writing. In this example you would say "ban". Here is an example:

شُكْرً

This example says "Shukran", which means Thank You in Arabic.

بٌ

tanwiin aD-Damm

tanwiin aD-Damm is somewhere between a vowel and a suffix. It is represtented by a double looped like shape over the top of a letter as shown above. tanwiin aD-Damm only appears at the end of a word and is basicly used only in Quaranic writing. In this example you would say "boon". Here is an example:

حَسْرَة ٌ ة

This example says "hasratoon", which means regret or sorrow in Arabic.

بٍ

tanwiin al-kasr

tanwiin al-kasr is somewhere between a vowel and a suffix. It is represtented by a double slanted line under the letter as shown above. tanwiin al-kasr only appears at the end of a word and is basicly used only in Quaranic writing. In this example you would say "bin". Here is an example:

تشَاوُر ٍ م

This example says "tashawrin", which means consultation or deliberation in Arabic.

sheen is similar to the english letter combination "sh". It is pronounced as the "s" in the words sheep and sheet.

Saad has no english equivilent but it is similar to an "s". It's like a 'hard' "s". It's a deeper "s" pronounced with the tongue on the roof of the mouth rather than up against the teeth.

Daad has no english equivilent but it is similar to a "d". It's like a 'hard' "d". It's a deeper "d " pronounced with the tongue on the roof of the mouth rather than up against the teeth.

Taa' has no english equivilent but it is similar to a "t". It's like a hard "t". It's a deeper "t" pronounced with the tongue on the roof of the mouth rather than up against the teeth.

DHaa' has no english equivilent but it is similar to a "z". It's like a hard "z". It's a deeper "z" pronounced with the tongue on the roof of the mouth rather than up against the teeth.

'ayn is probaly one of the hardest sounds for an English speaker to produce. It has no english equivilent at all and does not even sound close to any letter in the English language. It feels and sounds somewhat like you are gagging while saying "ah". It is best to have a native Arabic speaker pronounce it for you and help you with getting the pronunciation correct.

ghyan is another unfamiliar sound for an English speaker to produce. It has no english equivilent at all and does not really sound close to any letter in the English language. Try saying the "g" sound without using your tongue in the back of your throat. Imagine having a tongue depressor in your moth holding down your tongue while saying g and then slur in a little "h" sound. If you can have a native Arabic speaker help you with getting the pronunciation correct.

faa' is similar to the English "f".It is pronounced like the "f" in the words "fun" and "lift".

qaaf has no exact English equivilent although it is sometimes similar to the English letter "q". To pronounce it close the back of you throat and say "chough".

kaaf is similar to the English "k". It is pronounced like the "k" in the words "kitten" and "kelp".

laam is similar to the English "l". It is pronounced like the "l" in the words "lamb" and "litttle".

miim is similar to the English "m". It is pronounced like the "m" in the words "camp" and "mice".

nuun is similar to the English "n". It is pronounced like the "n" in the words "noon" and "night".

haa' is similar to the English "h". It is pronounced like the "h" in the words "have" and "hat".

waaw is similar to the English letters "w" and "o". It is pronounced like the "w" in the words "wow" and "will". It is pronounced like the "oo" in the words "food" and "mood".

yaa' is similar to the English "y". It is pronounced like the "y" in the words "yell" and "yes". It is also pronounced like the "ee" in "breeze" and "freeze". Sometimes the letter ي (yaa') will appear without it's two dots underneath it. this will be addressed in later lessons.

hamza has no English equivilent it is what is called a glottal stop. To produce a glottle stop try saying "bottle" without the "tt".

taa marbuTa is the same as haa'. The difference is that ta marbuTa appears only on the end of a word unlike haa' which can appear anywhere within the word.

Laam Alif is actually two letters that are made into this shape. Whenever a Laam (ل) is followed by an Alif (ا) it will form Laam Alif (ًَلا). Whenever you see this symbol just remember that it's "la".