The Arabic alphabet is often mentioned as one of the obstacles to learning this beautiful language. For students, the need to learn the alphabet can seem overwhelming at first. However, did you know that you can learn the Arabic alphabet in just a few days?
The Arabic alphabet consists of only 28 letters. Many letters are very similar and differ only in minor details. Often, when learning the shape of one letter, you automatically learn one or two others.
Below you will find an easy explanation of Arabic letters, the rules for their spelling, and examples of words. You will also find tips on how to learn the alphabet faster.
- How to learn Arabic alphabet?
- Learn Arabic alphabet
- 1. Arabic alphabet – ب ت ث
- 2. Arabic alphabet – ج ح خ
- 3. Arabic alphabet – د ذ
- 4. Arabic letters -ر ز
- 5. Arabic alphabet -س ش
- 6. Arabic alphabet -ص ض
- 7. Arabic alphabet – ط ظ
- 8. Arabic alphabet – ع غ
- 9. Arabic alphabet -ف ق
- 10. Arabic alphabet – ا و ي
- 11. Arabic alphabet – ن م
- 12. Arabic alphabet – ك ل
- 13. Arabic alphabet – ه
- Arabic letters that don’t connect
- Arabic alphabet Quiz
How to learn Arabic alphabet?
A common mistake made by people who want to learn the alphabet is that for a long time students practice the letter shapes, rather than whole words. Hence, you can often hear from students that it took them several months to learn the Arabic alphabet.
However, if you begin writing down whole Arabic words that consist of the letters you are learning, the whole process will take much less time. By learning this way, you will be able to write down and read Arabic words after just one week.
Some letters, as we mentioned at the beginning, differ only in details, such as the number of dots. It is natural that when learning the alphabet at the beginning such details can be confusing. Only by practicing writing in Arabic you can eliminate such mistakes and get used to the rules of the new writing system.
To quickly learn the Arabic alphabet follow these three steps:
- Learn the shape of letters and their pronunciation
Briefly learn the letter shape and pronunciation and learn how to distinguish letters from each other
- Learn the rules of joining letters
Learn how to write the letter while standing alone, at the beginning of a word, at the end of a word, and in the middle of a word
- Practice Arabic letters by writing whole Arabic words
Practice writing Arabic words – start with short, simple words
Practice reading Arabic words and recognizing the letters
See also: If you are at the beginning of your language-learning journey, check our How to learn Arabic Guide to see how you can improve this process.
Learn Arabic alphabet
Let’s take a look on the Arabic script and it’s basic characteristics:
- Arabic alphabet is an abjad (أبجد) writing system, which means that it has no vowels
- It consists of 28 letters, all consonants
- The letters are written in a cursive form
- Arabic alphabet is written from right to left
- No capital letters
Arabic letters in English:
Arabic | Letter name | English |
---|---|---|
ا | أَلِف – Alif | a |
ب | باء – Baa’ | b |
ت | تاء – Taa’ | t |
ث | ثاء – Thaa’ | th |
ج | جيم – Jeem / Geem | j / g |
ح | حاء – Haa’ | – |
خ | خاء – Khaa’ | – |
د | دال – Daal | d |
ذ | ذال – Dhaal | – |
ر | راء – Raa’ | r |
ز | زاي – Zaay | z |
س | سين – Seen | s |
ش | شين – Sheen | sh |
ص | صاد – Saad | – |
ض | ضاد – Daad | – |
ط | طاء – Taa’ | – |
ظ | ظاء – Thaa’ | – |
ع | عَيْن – Ain | – |
غ | غَيْن – Ghain | – |
ف | فاء – Faa’ | f |
ق | قاف – Qaaf | q |
ك | كاف – Kaaf | k |
ل | لام – Laam | l |
م | ميم – Meem | m |
ن | نون – Noon | n |
ه | هاء – Haa’ | h |
و | واو – Waaw | w |
ي | ياء – Yaa’ | y / i |
Below you will find all Arabic letters divided into 13 groups. That will help you to learn letters similar to each other first, to make the whole process easier for you to understand.
TIP: Learn one group of letters in one day, or one lesson. This way, learning the alphabet will not be overwhelming for you and will take less than two weeks. One such lesson shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes.
1. Arabic alphabet – ب ت ث
These three letters have exactly the same shape but they differ in the number and position of dots. As you can see, the letter ب (ba) has a dot under, the letter ت (ta) has two dots above and the letter ث (tha) has three dots above. By learning one shape you learn 3 from 28 Arabic letters.
Let’s start:
ب – baa’
Pronunciation: as in English bank
Joining the letter ب
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ب | بـ | ـبـ | ـب |
Examples of Arabic words with letter ب
باب
[baab]
Door
برج
[burj]
Tower
طبيب
[Tabeeb]
Doctor
!!! If you want to learn new Arabic vocabulary check our Arabic Vocabulary Lists.
ت – taa’
Pronunciation: as in English tank
Joining the letter ت
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ت | تـ | ـتـ | ـت |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ت
تاج
[taaj]
crown
كتاب
[kitaab]
book
بيت
[bayt]
house
ث – thaa’
Pronunciation: as in English thanks
Joining the letter ث
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ث | ثـ | ـثـ | ـث |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ث
ثوم
[thoom]
garlic
بعث
[ba3atha]
he sent
ثلث
[thulth]
one third
2. Arabic alphabet – ج ح خ
ج- jeem
Pronunciation: as in English jar
Joining the letter ج
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ج | جـ | ـجـ | ـج |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ج
جميل
[jameel]
beautiful
جبل
[jabal]
mountain
حجر
[Hajar]
stone
ح- Haa’
Pronunciation: breathy letter h, no equivalent in English
Joining the letter ح
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ح | حـ | ـحـ | ـح |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ح
حصان
[HiSaan]
horse
حب
[Hubb]
love
محكمة
[maHkama]
court
خ- khaa’
Pronunciation: pronounced from the back of the throat, no equivalent in English
Joining the letter خ
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
خ | خـ | ـخـ | ـخ |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter خ
خاتم
[khaatam]
ring
بخيل
[bakheel]
stingy
مخ
[mukhkh]
brain
3. Arabic alphabet – د ذ
د – daal
Pronunciation: as in English date
Joining the letter د
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
د | د | ـد | ـد |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter د
برد
[bard]
cold
صديق
[Sadeeq]
friend
دب
[dubb]
bear
ذ – dhaal
Pronunciation: as in English that
Joining the letter ذ
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ذ | ذ | ـذ | ـذ |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ذ
ذهب
[dhahab]
gold
لذيذ
[ladheedh]
delicious
أخذ
[akhadha]
he took
4. Arabic letters -ر ز
ر – raa’
Pronunciation: similar to Spanish r
Joining the letter ر
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ر | ر | ـر | ـر |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ر
رمل
[raml]
sand
جزر
[jazar]
carrot
مترجم
[mutarjim]
translator
ز – zaay
Pronunciation: as in English Zoo
Joining the letter ز
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ز | ز | ـز | ـز |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ز
زيت
[zayt]
oil
جزر
[jazar]
carrot
فوز
[fawz]
victory
5. Arabic alphabet -س ش
س – seen
Pronunciation: as in English safe
Joining the letter س
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
س | سـ | ـسـ | ـس |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter س
سمك
[samak]
fish
أسد
[asad]
lion
شمس
[shams]
sun
ش – sheen
Pronunciation: as in English shirt
Joining the letter ش
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ش | شـ | ـشـ | ـش |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ش
شمس
[shams]
sun
عطشان
[3aTshaan]
thirsty
خفاش
[khuffaash]
bat
6. Arabic alphabet -ص ض
ص – Saad
Pronunciation: emphatic s
Joining the letter ص
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ص | صـ | ـصـ | ـص |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ص
صقر
[Saqr]
falcon
حصان
[HiSaan]
horse
صوص
[SuuS]
chick
ض – Daad
Pronunciation: emphatic d
Joining the letter ض
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ض | ضـ | ـضـ | ـض |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ض
ضفدع
[Difda3]
frog
أرض
[arD]
land
ممرضة
[mumarriDa]
nurse
7. Arabic alphabet- ط ظ
ط- Taa’
Pronunciation: emphatic t
Joining the letter ط
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ط | طـ | ـطـ | ـط |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ط
طيّار
[Tayyaar]
pilot
عطشان
[3aTshaan]
thirsty
قط
[qiTT]
cat
ظ – Thaa’
Pronunciation: emphatic th
Joining the letter ظ
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ظ | ظـ | ـظـ | ـظ |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ظ
ظهر
[Thahr]
back
عظم
[3aThm]
bone
مظلة
[maThalla]
umbrella
8. Arabic alphabet – ع غ
ع- Ain
Pronunciation: no equivalent in English, guttural a sound
Joining the letter ع
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ع | عـ | ـعـ | ـع |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ع
عين
[3ayn]
eye
مطعم
[maT3am]
restaurant
شارع
[shaari3]
street
غ – Ghayn
Pronunciation: no equivalent in English, as r pronounced from the back of the throat
Joining the letter غ
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
غ | غـ | ـغـ | ـغ |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter غ
غابة
[ghaaba]
forest
مغني
[mughanniy]
singer
غرفة
[ghurfa]
room
9. Arabic alphabet -ف ق
ف – faa’
Pronunciation: as in English fox
Joining the letter ف
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ف | فـ | ـفـ | ـف |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ف
ق – qaaf
Pronunciation: q pronunced from the back of the throat
Joining the letter ق
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ق | قـ | ـقـ | ـق |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ق
قلب
[qalb]
heart
عقد
[3iqd]
necklace
سائق
[saa’iq]
driver
10. Arabic letters – ا و ي
*These three letters also function as long vowels.
ا – Alif
Note: It can indicate a long A vowel (aa) or to carry a short vowel (a, u, i)
Joining the letter ا
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ا | ا | ـا | ـا |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ا
باب
[baab]
door
ذراع
[dhiraa3]
arm
شارع
[shaari3]
street
و – waaw
Note: It can indicate a long U vowel (uu) or pronunced as w in wedding
Joining the letter و
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
و | و | ـو | ـو |
Examples of Arabic words with letter و
وزن
[wazn]
weight
سوق
[suuq]
market
وزير
[wazeer]
minister
ي – yaa’
Note: It can indicate a long i vowel (ee as in need) or pronounced as y in yes
Joining the letter ي
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ي | يـ | ـيـ | ـي |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ي
يد
[yad]
hand
عين
[3ayn]
eye
طبيب
[Tabeeb]
doctor
11. Arabic alphabet – ن م
ن – noon
Pronunciation: as in English no
Joining the letter ن
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ن | نـ | ـنـ | ـن |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ن
نهر
[nahr]
river
فندق
[funduq]
hotel
وزن
[wazn]
weight
م – meem
Pronunciation: as in English maybe
Joining the letter م
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
م | مـ | ـمـ | ـم |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter م
مطر
[maTar]
rain
قمر
[qamar]
moon
خاتم
[khaatam]
ring
12. Arabic alphabet – ك ل
ك – kaaf
Pronunciation: as in English key
Joining the letter ك
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ك | كــ | ـكـ | ـك |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ك
كتاب
[kitaab]
book
سكر
[sukkar]
sugar
سمك
[samak]
fish
ل – laam
Pronunciation: as in English lost
Joining the letter ل
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ل | لـ | ـلـ | ـل |
Examples of Arabic words with the letter ل
لسان
[lisaan]
tongue
قلب
[qalb]
heart
عسل
[3asal]
honey
13. Arabic alphabet – ه
ه – haa’
Pronunciation: as in English hope
Joining the letter ه
Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final |
---|---|---|---|
ه | هـ | ـهـ | ـه |
Examples of Arabic words with letter ه
هرم
[haram]
pyramid
نهر
[nahr]
river
وجه
[wajh]
face
Arabic letters that don’t connect
As mentioned before, some of the letters are not joining the next letter in a word. These six letters are:
ا | Alif |
د | daal |
ذ | dhaal |
ر | raa’ |
ز | zay |
و | waaw |
Read next: To learn how to read Arabic you need to learn vowels in Arabic.
Arabic alphabet Quiz
Quizzes are a great tool to practice your vocabulary. All the Arabic vocabulary lists on our website contain quizzes at the end of each lesson, to help you remember newly learned words. To check more Arabic Quizzes go to -> Selfarabic – Arabic Vocabulary Quizzes
Arabic alphabet Quiz
Check how well you know Arabic letters with our quick quiz.
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