Unit 4 · Lesson 23
Ghunna
The nasal sound of nūn and mīm
Ghunna is a nasal sound that comes from the nose. It is strongest on a nūn or mīm with shadda, which you always hold for two counts.
إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَٰكَ ٱلْكَوْثَرَinnā aʿṭaynāka-l-kawtharListen · Al-Kawthar 108:1قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِqul aʿūdhu bi-rabbi-n-nāsListen · An-Nas 114:1ثُمَّ كَلَّا سَيَعْلَمُونَthumma kallā sayaʿlamūnListen · An-Naba 78:5
Where else you hear it
You have already met the ghunna in idghām with ي ن م و, in iqlāb and ikhfāʾ, and with mīm sākina before ب and م. It is always about two counts.
PRACTICE
Tap an answer to check yourself.
How long is the ghunna of نّ and مّ?
Where does ghunna come from?
Which letter has a ghunna here?
ٱلنَّاسِ