The alphabet

Assalamu alaikum,

Pronouncing the names of the Arabic letters :

(keep in mind these are the names of the letters, not the sound they make).  I will put the Arabic transliteration of the name with an English word in brackets ( ) that has the same sound.  I invite any who know better or can explain better to correct any errors that I make!

'alef  �- a (like in cat) lef (leaf)       ba'a � - (like in bat)       

ta'a  � - (like in taboo)    

tha'a  � - (like in thatch)     

 jeem �  - j (a soft j, like in French words Jean or Jaques {the way the French pronounce it not the way the English pronounce it!} *note: you will find Egyptian Arab speakers saying it like "g" as in gum - the soft j sound is more correct)  eem (like in dream)

ha'a  � an exaggerated h sound like in hand with breath from your throat

kha'a  � - kh (like a Scotsman would say loch - from the very back of your mouth) a'a (like in cat)

daal  � - d like in door, aa like in cat, l like in love

dhaal �  - dh, push tip of tongue behind top front teeth like in that, aal like cat and love

ra'a  � - (roll tip of tongue to sound of ra like in rat - Spanish speakers will find this one easy!)

zay �  - z (zebra) ay (day)

seen  � - sounds just like English word seen

sheen �  - shee (sheep) n (can)

saad  � - saa (saw) d (dad)     daad �  - daa (dawn)  d (dad)

ta'a �  - more emphasized t than the ta'a above (put more air behind the t) a'a (cat)

za'a �  - more emphasized z than letter zay, a'a (cat)

aine  � - eye, n (can)

ghane �  - gh (like a growling r sound from deep in your throat) ane (an)

fa'a �  - (father)     qaaf  � - q (sound from deep in your throat) aaf (after)

kaf  � - k (keep) af (after)     lam  � - (lamb)     meem �  - (mom) (seem)

noon  � - just like English word noon

ha'a  � - regular h (happy) a'a (cat)

waw �  - just like it looks!     ya'a  � - like ya with a throat stop at end

Peace, ummziba.

Assalamu alaikum,

Sounds the Arabic letters make:

'alef  � - rather (see vowel sounds thread to find out more about sounds 'alef makes)

ba'a  � - bat     ta'a  � - eight     tha'a �  - mouth    

 jeem �  - Jacques (as French say it)

ha'a �  - heavy (hard h)     kha'a �  - khan or loch (back in throat)    

daal �  - dog

dhaal �  - this with tongue against back of front teeth    

ra'a �  - rat but roll the r

zay � - zebra     seen � - sin     sheen � - shop    

saad  � - sit (hard s sound)

daad �  - Ramadhan (an emphatic d sound peculiar to Arabic)

ta � - harder t than ta'a     za'a � - harder z than zay    

aine �  and ghane �  - best to ask an Arabic speaker to make these sounds for you!  (aine is sort of like a choked up a in and, and ghane is like a growled r from deep in your throat)

fa'a  � - faith    

qaaf  � - question but with back of tongue touching top of mouth

kaaf �  - keep     lam �  - look     meem � - mint     ha'a � - host    

waw  � - wide     ya'a �  - young

As you can see, some of these are hard to explain and are best heard vocalized by one who speaks Arabic.  As well, some of these sounds are very difficult to distinguish from one another to the inexperienced ear.

Truly to get the accent right and to hear the sounds in the best way, it is the best to learn from a native Arabic speaker.  Second best are tapes/audio sources of native Arabic speakers.  Third best, someone who is not a native Arabic speaker but knows the language.  This is not to hurt anyone's feelings, but think about it, would you try to learn Italian from an Italian speaking Scotsman?

Again, I invite anyone who can explain these sounds better or from a different perspective to please post your comments!

Peace, ummziba