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Alphabet & Pronunciation
The Arabic alphabet, its sounds and pronunciation, from letters to full reading.
ا ب ت ث
alif ba ta tha
a b t th
First letters of the Arabic abjad, read right to left
ج ح خ
jim ha kha
j h kh
ح is a deep pharyngeal h; خ is a guttural kh
د ذ ر ز
dal dhal ra zay
d dh r z
ذ = th as in 'this'; ز = z
س ش ص ض
sin shin sad dad
s sh s d
ص and ض are emphatic (heavy) letters
ط ظ ع غ
ta za ayn ghayn
t z ' gh
ع is a pharyngeal sound; غ is like a French r
ف ق ك ل
fa qaf kaf lam
f q k l
ق is a deep q from the back of the throat
م ن ه و ي
mim nun ha waw ya
m n h w/u y/i
و and ي also serve as long vowels
ـَ ـِ ـُ
fatha kasra damma
a i u
The three short-vowel marks, written above or below
مَدْرَسَة
school
madrasa
Reading a full word with its short vowels
كِتَاب
book
kitaab
The long vowel alif gives the 'aa' sound
