The standalone form
ثThree dots aboveMeet the letter
Thaa ثَاء
Three dots above make this letter thaa. Its basic written shape resembles baa and taa, but its sound is different. It can join on both sides.
In the Arabic word ثَعْلَب (“fox”), the first letter is thaa. Count the three dots above its first letter.
One letter. Four shapes.
The standalone form is above. Read the three connected forms from right to left.
Beginning
Joins to the leftThaa joins to ʿayn on its left.
Middle
Joins on both sidesThe medial thaa joins to meem on the right and laam on the left.
End
Joins to the rightThe final thaa joins to the preceding ḥaa on its right.
The name stays thaa in every shape. A connected form does not add a new sound. Gold highlights this letter in each example.
1Three short vowelsA little mark changes the sound.
The letter’s name is thaa. Follow the Arabic tiles from right to left.
2Stretch the vowelThaa with alif, yaa and waaw.
Keep the same consonant and stretch the vowel. These are sound practice units.
3Thaa without a vowelSukūn · no following vowel.
The circle above ثْ means there is no vowel on this consonant. Here is a complete noun, read when stopping.
Listen to the whole word.
Finish with th, without adding a vowel after it. Thaa allows air to continue: sukūn removes the vowel, rather than requiring an abrupt stop to the breath.
4Two letters, one written shapeShaddah · three vowel sounds.
A shaddah joins two of the same consonant. The first has sukūn; the second has the vowel. Read each Arabic sequence from right to left.
Fatḥah · a
Kasrah · i
Ḍammah · u
5One word, three tanwīn endingsSee the ending in a real word.
Compare three full endings on the same noun. The doubled vowel mark adds an n sound when the ending is pronounced in full.
Where next?
Follow your curiosity.
When you feel ready
Choose your next adventure.
Find the Arabic Letter
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Listen, spot the vowel and build what you hear. Explore short and long vowels, sukūn, shaddah, tanwīn and simple words.
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