4.1: Letters

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`Learning Objectives

In this section, you will be able to:

Read, write, and type the letters ( ر ز س ش ص ض ة (التاء المربوطة in their different shapes.
Pronounce the letters with ( ر ز س ش ص ض ة (التاء المربوطة short and long vowels.

The letters

This table shows the letters discussed on this page and includes an audio recordings of each letter's pronounciation

Letters on this page
Letter Name اسم الحرف‌	Letter shape شكل الحرف	Audio Recording
Raa	ر
Zai	ز
Seen	س
Sheen	ش
Saad	ص
Daad	ض

The Letter Raa ر

In this section you will learn how to pronounce these 6 Arabic letters ر ز س ش ص ض and their articulation with their short and long vowels

Pronunciation of The Letter Raa ر

The letter “ر” is emitted from the tip of the tongue and what lies opposite to it of the gums of the two front top incisors (the plate). The tip with the top of the tongue needs to strike the gum to produce this sound correctly. The letters NOON and RAA “ر” come from the same articulation point, but the only difference is that the RAA “ر” uses the tip of the line and does not touch it. There is a small gap between the tongue and the gum and vibrate (trilling ) for Raa “ر” pronunciation. The main character of the RAA “ر” is that swing between “Tafkheem” and “Tarqeek”. “Tafkheem” is the opposite of “Tarqeek”. Raa “ر” depends on the short vowel that precedes it; if the short vowel is fathah or dhamah, then the letter Raa’s pronunciation will be stronger (Tafkheem). If the short vowel is kasrah, then the letter Raa’s “ر” pronunciation will be weaker (Tarqeek). (See Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\))

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

The Letter ر with the short vowels and sukun

The letter with the short vowels and sukun
The sound with sukun	The sound with dhamah	The sound with kasrah	The sound with Fathah
رْ	رُ	رِ	رَ

The letter with the long vowels
The letter with the long vowel "و" oo	The letter with the long vowel "ي" ee	The letter with the long vowel "ا" aa
رو	ري	را

Exercise 4.1.1

Find the letter Raa "ر " with the fatha

رُ - رِ - ر - رَ - رُ - را - ري - رو

Answer: رَ

Writing Letter ر

This letter "ر" is a non-connector. It has only one connector like the letters "و", "ذ", "د", and "ا". The Raa "ر" is written almost entirely below the line. To write the initial "ر" begin on the line and curve downward below it. The letter "ر" looks like the shape of a crescent moon or a banana. To write a "ر" that is connected from a preceding letter, start from the connecting segment on the line, and then curve down.

Writing Letter ر
Final Form	Medial Form	Initial Form	Independent Form
ر/ ـر	ـر	ر	ر

Watch the video to learn how to write the letter "Raa" ر

The Letter Zai 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. (see Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)).

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter ز

The letter with the short vowels and sukun
The sound with sukun	The sound with dhamah	The sound with kasrah	The sound with Fathah
زْ	زُ	زِ	زَ

The letter with the long vowels
The letter with the long vowel "و" oo	The letter with the long vowel "ي" ee	The letter with the long vowel "ا" aa
زو	زي	زا

Exercise 4.1.2

Highlight the letter Zai " ز" in the following words:

- خبز - زار - أرز - زينة - حزب

Answer: خبز - زار - أرز - زينة - حزب

Writing Letter ز

You write the letters "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

The Letter Seen س

The letter “Seen” “س” is the name of the Arabic letter that corresponds to English “s”, as in the word seen itself. However, remember that English “s” is often pronounced as “z”, such as in “easy” and “optimism”, and in many plurals like “dogs”. Arabic “س”, on the other hand, always retains the soft “s” sound. “س” is a frontal consonant, which means that surrounding vowels take a frontal quality, especially Alif (the long vowel), and fathah, which sound like the “e” in bet.

The articulation point of the letter “س” is the tongue and the tip top edge of the two frontal low incisors. There is a space left in between the tip of the tongue and the plates of the teeth when pronouncing this letter. A whistle-like sound should accompany its pronunciation. (See Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\))

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter س

The letter with the short vowels and sukun
The sound with sukun	The sound with dhamah	The sound with kasrah	The sound with Fathah
سْ	سُ	سِ	سَ

The letter with the long vowels
The letter with the long vowel "و" oo	The letter with the long vowel "ي" ee	The letter with the long vowel "ا" aa
سو	سي	سا

Exercise 4.1.3

Find the long vowels of the letter Seen "س" in the following words:

سيَّارة - سارَ - حساب - أسير- خَس - أسْوَد

Answer: سار - حساب - أسير

Writing Letter س

The letter "س" is a connecting letter distinguished in print by its three teeth. In handwriting, the letter "س" is often written without its teeth (as straight line). To write the independent "س", begin on the line and draw a tiny hook and three teeth (like a toothbrush) then dip below the line into the tail, almost like a semicircle. In the beginning of the word, "ســــ" is written like independent "س", but without the tail - the segment should be longer to distinguish the letter.

When "س" is connected to a preceding letter, the connecting segment and the body of the letter are indistinguishable, and there is no hook in the beginning. This means that the connecting segment and the letter should form a line like this "ــســـــ". The body should be long enough to distinguish it from a connecting segment.

The final "ـــس" is written with a tail, which must come all the way back up to the line. (Watch the video)

Writing Letter س
Independent Form	Independent Form	Independent Form	Independent Form
ـس	ـس	ـس	ـس

Watch the video to learn how to write the letter Seen

The Letter Sheen ش

The letter “ش” articulation point is the middle of the tongue and what lies opposite to it from the roof of the mouth of the hard palate – similar to the letter “ج” and the consonant “ي,” but it has specific characteristics. The letter “ش” is similar to the English sound “sh” in the words “should, shall, she”. (see Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\))

Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter ش — Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter " ش"

The letter with the short vowels and sukun
The sound with sukun	The sound with dhamah	The sound with kasrah	The sound with Fathah
شْ	شُ	شِ	شَ

The letter with the long vowels
The letter with the long vowel "و" oo	The letter with the long vowel "ي" ee	The letter with the long vowel "ا" aa
شو	شي	شا

Exercise 4.1.4

Find the long vowels of the letter Sheen ش

شَ - شو - شُ - شِ - شا - شي

Answer: شو - شا - شي

Writing Letter ش

You write the letter Sheen "ش" in the same way you write the letter Seen "س", but with the addition of three dots over the three teeth. The three dots are connected in handwriting and take the shape of the overturned letter "v". (Watch the video)

Writing Letter ش
Final Form	Medial Form	Initial Form	Independent Form
ـش	ـشـ	شــ	ش

Watch the video to learn how to write the letter Sheen

The Letter Saad ص

The articulation place of the letter “Saad” “ص” is the same as the letter “س” from the tip of the tongue and the top edge of the two front lower incisors. However, this letter represents the emphatic counterpart of “س”. Pronounce “س” out loud and note the position of your tongue. It should be toward the front and close to the roof of the mouth. Now, starting at the back of your teeth, move your tongue back along the roof of your mouth. You will find a bony ridge just behind the teeth, before the upward curve of the roof of your mouth; place your

tongue against this ridge. The rest of tongue will drop lower inside your mouth to gather air. The emphatic consonants in Arabic are pronounced by placing the end of the tongue in this spot and dropping the rest of the tongue as low as you can. (see Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\)).

Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter ص

The letter with the short vowels and sukun
The sound with sukun	The sound with dhamah	The sound with kasrah	The sound with Fathah
صْ	صُ	صِ	صَ

The letter with the long vowels
The letter with the long vowel "و" oo	The letter with the long vowel "ي" ee	The letter with the long vowel "ا" aa
صو	صي	صا

Watch the video to learn how to write the letter Saad

Exercise 4.1.5

Which of the following is the Arabic letter "ص"

Seen - Sheen - Saad - Zai - Raa

Answer.: Saad

Writing Letter ص

The letter “ص” is a connector letter and retains the same basic shape in both print and handwriting. There are two essential points to keep in mind when writing “ص”. First, the loop must be large and oval-shaped. Secondly, there should be a small tooth after the loop.

To write the independent “ص”, start on the line and make a big loop up and back to your right, then swing down and close it. Without stopping, make the tooth, then drop well below the line to make the tail. The tail of “ص” is the same shape of the tail of “س” and must come all the way back up to the line.

The letter in the beginning of the word, “صــ”, is written in the same way, but without the tail. After making the tooth, continue to the connecting segment. To write the middle “ــصـــ” connected from a previous letter, draw the connecting segment to the starting point of the loop, the same point at which you started in the initial position, and then follow the same steps. At the end of the word, “ــص” is connected in the same way as the medial “ــصــ” and ends with a tail.

Writing Letter ص
Final Form	Medial Form	Initial Form	Independent Form
ـص	ـصـ	صـ	ص

The Letter Daad ض

The letter Daad “ض” is articulated from the one or both sides of the tongue and from the molars and the gum area next to the molars. This letter can be articulated from one side (right or left) of the tongue alone, or from both sides of the tongue simultaneously, which is more difficult. “ض” has the characteristic of compression of the sound, as well as tafkheem (elevated/heaviness), so the deep part of the tongue raises when pronouncing it and compresses the sound at the same time. The “ض” represents the emphatic counterpart of “د”. To pronounce “ض”, place your your tongue in the same position as you did to say “ص” and “د”, and the result will be “ض”. (see Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\))

Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\): Cross section of the head to show the articulation of the letter ض

The letter ض with the short vowels and sukun

You will listen to the sound of the letter ض with the short vowels

The letter with the short vowels and sukun
The sound with sukun	The sound with dhamah	The sound with kasrah	The sound with Fathah
ضْ	ضُ	ضِ	ضَ

The letter with the long vowels
The letter with the long vowel "و" oo	The letter with the long vowel "ي" ee	The letter with the long vowel "ا" aa
ضو	ضي	ضا

Exercise 4.1.6

Find the short vowels of the letter Daad ض in the following:

ضُ - ضا - ضي - ضِ - ضْ- ضو - ضَ

Answer: ضُ - ضِ - ضَ

Writing Letter ض

You write the letter “ض” in the same way as the letter “ص” and add a dot above the letter. (Watch the video)

Writing Letter ض
Final Form	Medial Form	Initial Form	Independent Form
ـض	ـضـ	ضـ	ض

Watch the video to learn how to write the letter Daad

Watch the video to learn more about the letters:

Activities

Query \(\PageIndex{1}\)

Query \(\PageIndex{2}\)

Query \(\PageIndex{3}\)

Exercise 4.1:

Trace the letter in the initial, medial, final and independent positions ( remember to write from right to left):

Trace the letter ر (remember to read and trace from right to left)

Independent	Final	Medial	Initial
صورة	جار	خبـر	رنا

Trace the letter ز (remember to read and trace from right to left)

Independent	Final	Medial	Initial
أرز	خبز	حزب	زوج

Trace the letter س (remember to read and trace from right to left)

Independent	Final	Medial	Initial
درس	أوتوبيس	حساب	أستاذ

Trace the letter ش (remember to read and trace from right to left)

Independent	Final	Medial	Initial
جرش	ريش	بشير	شاي

Trace the letter ص (remember to read and trace from right to left)

Independent	Final	Medial	Initial
باص	شخص	فصل	صباح

Listening Activities

You will practice listening to the sound of the letters with short and long vowels, then write them.

Query \(\PageIndex{4}\)

Query \(\PageIndex{5}\)