🔗 Level 2: Joining letters
Special shapes: Laam-Alif, Haa, Kaaf, Yaa and Taa Marbootah New
A few letters change shape a lot when they join. Learn them here so they never surprise you.
In this lesson you will
- Read Laam joined to Alif (لا)
- Recognise Haa, Kaaf and Yaa in every position
- Know Taa Marbootah (ة) and the Hamzah seats
Learn
Tap any Arabic example to hear it.
Laam + Alif = لا
When Laam is followed by Alif they make a special shape: لا (Laam-Alif). It is two letters: say 'Laam Alif'.
Haa (ه) changes the most
At the start it looks like هـ, in the middle like ـهـ. Don't confuse it with the end form ـه or with Taa Marbootah ة.
| Letter | Alone | Start | Middle | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ه | ه | ه | ه |
Kaaf (ك)
At the start and in the middle Kaaf has no small 's' inside: كـ ـكـ.
| Letter | Alone | Start | Middle | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ك | ك | ك | ك |
Yaa (ي)
At the end Yaa has its full shape ـي; at the start and middle only its two dots below show: يـ ـيـ. The Alif Maqsoorah ى looks like Yaa without dots and is read as a long 'aa' sound at the end of a word.
| Letter | Alone | Start | Middle | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ي | ي | ي | ي |
Taa Marbootah (ة)
The 'tied Taa' ة only comes at the end of a word. It sounds like 't' when you keep reading, and like 'h' when you stop.
Hamzah and its seats
Hamzah can sit alone ء, on an Alif أ إ, on a Waaw ؤ or on a Yaa seat without dots ئ. Its sound is always the same short catch.
Practice
Tap each card to hear it. When you can read it by yourself, tap its ✓. Your progress is saved.
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