🌙 Level 1: The letters

Where sounds come from (Makhaarij) New

Arabic letters are made in different places: the throat, the tongue, the lips and the nose. Knowing where helps you say them clearly.

In this lesson you will

  • Know the five places sounds come from
  • Say the six throat letters clearly
  • Tell heavy letters from light ones

Learn

Tap any Arabic example to hear it.

The five places (makhaarij)

PlaceLetters

The empty space of the mouth and throat (for long vowels)

ا و ي when they stretch a sound

The throat (bottom, middle, top)

ء ه bottom · ع ح middle · غ خ top

The tongue

most letters, e.g. ق ك ج ش ي ض ل ن ر ط د ت ص س ز ظ ذ ث

The lips

ف ب م و

The nose (ghunnah, a humming sound)

ن م when they hum

Heavy and light

Seven letters are always heavy (tafkheem): the mouth is full and the back of the tongue rises. A helpful phrase to remember them is خُصَّ ضَغْطٍ قِظْ. All other letters are light (except Raa and the Laam of 'Allah' in some cases).

Pairs to practise

Say each pair one after the other and feel the difference.

Practice

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