The standalone form
ظOne dot above the tall stemMeet the letter
Ẓaa ظَاء
Ẓaa shares its shape with ṭaa, with one dot above. It joins on both sides. Its emphatic ẓ sound is fuller than the dh of dhaal.
In the Arabic word ظَرْف (“envelope”), the first letter is ẓaa. Look for the dot above the stem.
One letter. Four shapes.
The standalone form is above. Read the three connected forms from right to left.
Beginning
Joins to the leftẒaa joins to raa on its left.
Middle
Joins on both sidesẒaa joins to noon on the right and alif on the left. The shaddah doubles its sound.
End
Joins to the rightẒaa joins to faa on its right at the end of ḥifẓ.
The name stays ẓaa 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 ẓaa. Follow the Arabic tiles from right to left.
2Stretch the vowelẒaa with alif, yaa and waaw.
Keep the same consonant and stretch the vowel. These are sound practice units.
3Ẓaa without a vowelSukūn · no following vowel.
The circle above ظْ means there is no vowel on this consonant. Here is a complete noun, read when stopping.
Listen to the whole word.
Finish with ẓ and no added vowel. The tongue tip meets the edges of the upper front teeth; keep the emphatic sound.
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
Dot Detective
Explore every Arabic letter through dots, shapes, connected forms and short words. Start with a few letters or choose your own practice.
8 questions · no timer · beginner starterPlay Dot Detective →
Arabic Letter Connections
Letter Linkers
New shapes. Clever connections. Match changing letter forms, discover joining breaks and build simple words.
8 puzzles · no timer · guided starterPlay Letter Linkers →
Arabic Sounds and Reading
Build the Sound
Listen, spot the vowel and build what you hear. Explore short and long vowels, sukūn, shaddah, tanwīn and simple words.
8 questions · no timer · hear and buildPlay Build the Sound →