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6.4: Letter Zay

  • Page ID
    269736
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    Learning Objectives

    In this section, you will be able to:

    • Read and write ز in its different shapes.
    • Pronounce the letter ز with short and long vowels.

    Introduction

    The letter "ز" (zay) is a prominent character in the Arabic alphabet, occupying the eleventh position in the script. Pronounced as a voiced alveolar fricative, similar to the "z" in the English word "zebra," "zay" adds a sharp and distinct sound to the Arabic language. Its form is simple and elegant, featuring a single vertical stroke with a dot above it, making it easy to distinguish from other letters.

    "Zay" is frequently encountered in Arabic, appearing in many common words and names. Examples include "زيت" (zayt, meaning "oil") and "زمان" (zamaan, meaning "time" or "era"). For learners of Arabic, mastering the pronunciation and recognition of "zay" is crucial for proper reading, writing, and speaking. The letter "zay" also exemplifies the beauty of Arabic calligraphy with its clean and balanced design, often incorporated into intricate artistic patterns.

    The Letter Zay ز

    This letter corresponds to the English sound “z” as in the word “zebra”. The articulation place of the letter “ز” is the tongue and the top edge of the two frontal lower incisors. There is a little space left in between the tip of the tongue and the plates of the teeth when pronouncing this letter. In other words, the tip of the tongue just misses the edge of the top and lower teeth. When this letter is emitted, a light whistle-like sound should be heard accompanying the sound, which is called in Arabic “Safeer, صفير”. The most common mistake when pronouncing this letter is pressing the tongue up against the plates of the teeth causing the sound to be suppressed when attempting to say the letter.

    Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter ز
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter ز

    Pronunciation of letter Zay "ز" with short vowels الحركات and absence of short vowels السكون.

    Pronunciation of the Letter Zay with Short Vowels and Sukoon
    The Marks (Harakat الحركات) The Letter with the mark Audio

    Fataha

    الفتحة

    زَ

    Dhama

    الضمة

    ُز

    Kasra

    الكسرة

    زِ

    Absence of short vowel

    Sukoon

    السكون

    زْ

    Pronunciation of the letter Zay "ز" with long vowels.

    Pronunciation of Letter ز with Long Vowels
    The Long Vowel المدود The Letter with a long vowel Audio

    The long vowel "ا"=aa

    زا

    The long vowel "و"= oo/uu

    زو

    The long vowel "ي"=ee/ii زي

    How to write the Letter ز

    You write the letter "ز" in the same way you write the letter "ر." The only difference is the letter "ز" has a dot above it. (Watch the video)

    Writing Letter ز
    Final Form Medial Form Initial Form Independent Form
    ز / ـز ـز ز ز

    Watch the video to learn how to write the letter Zay.

    Watch the video to learn more about the letter Zay الحرف زاي. The letter changes shape depending on their position in a word.

    Activities

    Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)
    Query \(\PageIndex{2}\)
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    Query \(\PageIndex{4}\)
    Query \(\PageIndex{5}\)

    6.4: Letter Zay is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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