Ḍād to qāf

This group holds some of the sounds most particular to Arabic. Take your time with them, and listen to them often.

Heavy letters

ض, ط and ظ are heavy versions of d, t and the th of “this”, said with the back of the tongue raised. Arabic is called “the language of ḍād” because ض is found in so few other languages.

The ʿayn

ع (ʿayn) has no English match. Tighten the middle of your throat, as if starting to gag, and let your voice through. It is written ʿ in transliteration. Its dotted pair غ (ghayn) is like a gargled r, as in French.