Arabic Alphabet - Places of Origin

Arabic Alphabet - Places of Origin

HARF	TRANSCRIPTION	PLACE /TYPE OF ORIGIN /SOUND	DESCRIPTION OF THE ORIGIN	EXAMPLE
	ā	This is deep (ğewfiyye) or streaming (hewā'ijje) vocal and it is produced by air streaming from deep lungs.	Arabic vowel "A" is pronounced from the cavity of the mouth and it is pronounced with slight sound of vowel "E". There are two types of pronunciation depending of the mouth opening: - Completely open – after these consonants خَصَّ  ضَغَطَ قَظَ -  Should not be similar to "O". - Slightly open - After all the consonants except those mentioned above. Should not be similar to "E". - Closed variant or Imalah which occurs in only one place in the Qur'an.	أَ
ي	ī	Thic vocal is frontal horizontally and high vertically.	During pronunciation the tongue touches lower incisors and the mouth is moderately open. Vowel is similar to English "I".	إي
و	ū	Vokal is posterior horizontally and high vertically.	During pronunciation the tongue is pulled back and lips rounded. The mouth is moderately open. This vowel is similar to English "U".	اُؤ

GROUP 2 - LABIAL LETTERS - Al-Hurufal-Shafawiyyah (Lips, Nasal cavity and Upper incisors)
ب	b	Bilabial (two lips) /plosive /sonant	When pronounced the lips are merged and opened under the pressure of air.	أَبْ
و	w	Bilabial (two lips) /semivowel/sonant	The voice is pronounced like English "W" or similar to bivocal UA. In pronunciation the mouth is shaped for the vocal U. Lips are embossed and roundshaped.	أَوْ
م	m	Bilabial (two lips) /nasal/sonant	This consonant is just simple "M", same in any language. It is pronounced by merging the lips and releasing the air through the nose while opening the mouth.	أَمْ
ف	f	Labio-dental (lips - teeth) /fricative (streaming) /soundless	It is pronunced by pressure of the upper teeth leaned against the inside of the lower lip.	أَفْ

GROUP 3 - GUTTURAL LETTERS - Al-huruf al-Halqiyyeh (Deep, front and back part of the throat)
ء	hamzah	Glotal (deep throat) /plosive/ neutral	Vocal cords are firmly merged and the air from the lungs suddenly opens up this barrier deep in the throat making an explosive noise.	ءَ
ه	h	Glotal (deep throat)/ fricative, (streaming) - soundless	The voice is deep guttural. Vocal cords are moderately closed and the air from the lungs is gently pushed.	أَهْ
ح	ḥ	Pharynxal/ fricative, (streaming) /soundless	Founded in the throat with a sharp narrowing of the throat and by pushing air through the constriction.	أَحْ
ع	‘ayn	Pharynxal/ plosive /soundless	The root and the last part of the tongue is pulled back, air is pushed and pharynx opens and the tongue is moved forward with the muscles of the mouth clenched.	أَعْ
خ	h	Velar (back-palatal) / fricative, (streaming) /soundless	Last part of the tongue raised toward the velum and the air is pushed through the narrowing producing a sound very similar to snoring.	أَخْ
غ	ġ	Velar (back-palatal) / fricative, (streaming) /sonant	Last part of the language is moved to the soft palate and the release of air from the lungs produces harsh sounds with blinking fringes.	أَغْ

GROUP 4 - UVULAR LETTERS - Al-Harafan al-Lahawijan (Zone of fringes and back of the tongue - soft palate)
ك	k	Velar (back-palatal) /plosive /soundless	Last part of the language is rised to the soft palate, making it a barrier while airflow in the lungs gently opens the barrier. Voice is only slightly softer than "K" in English language.	أَكْ
ق	q	Uvulo-velar (uvular- back-palatal) /plosive /soundless	Back part of the tongue is raised to the fringe. The air from the lungs overcomes the obstacle while producing a plosive sound.	أَقْ

GROUP 5 - PALATAL LETTERS - Al-Huruf al-Shajariyyah (Hard palate and mid-tongue)
ي	y	Front-palatal / semivocal /sonant	Top of the tongue is moved forward and pressed under the front incisors and the lateral side of language rests on the upper palate. This voice is the same as "Y" in English language.	أَىْ
ش	sh	Palato-alveolar (palate -gums) / fricative(streaming) /soundless	Tip of the tongue is pressed against the root of the lower teeth and the front of the tongue touches the front of the hard palate. The voice is slightly softer than in English language.	أَشْ
ج	ǧ	Palato-alveolar (palate-gums) / semiclosed (africative) /sonant	Tip of the tongue is pressed against the root of the lower teeth and the front part of the language leaned against the front of the hard palate and the air is crossing that obstacle. The voice is slightly softer than "J" in English language.	أَجْ

GROUP 6 - LIQUID LETTERS - Al-Hurufal-Dhaulaqiyyah (Hard palate and mid-tongue)
ر	r	Alveolar (gums) / vibrant (trembling) /sonant	Top of the tongue is leaned on hard palate, against the root of the upper teeth and the air flows over the tongue while tongue flickers. There is hard and soft pronunciation of this consonant.	أَرْ
ن	n	Dental (teeth) / nazal (nose) /sonant	Top of the tongue relies on the root of the upper incisors and the air is passed through the nasal cavity. Voice is the same as "N" in English language.	أَنْ
ل	l	Dental (teeth) / lateral (side) /sonant	Top of the tongue is set on the basis of the upper incisors and the edges of the tongue are set against the root of upper teeth and front palate. This voice is  softer than "L" in English language.	أَلْ

GROUP 7 - DENTALNI LETTERS - Al-Hurufal-Nit'iyyah (The root of the upper teeth and the tip of tongue)
د	D	Dental / plosive / sonant	Tip of the tongue is touching the base of the upper incisor teeth and is separated under the pressure of air. Voice is the same as "D" in English language.	أَدْ
ت	T	Dental  / plosive / soundless	Top of tongue set on the root of the upper teeth and under the air pressure suddenly separated and the air is freely released. Voice is the same as "T" in English language.	أَتْ
ط	ṭ	Dental (teeth) / plosive /soundless	Tip of the tongue touches the root oft he upper incissors while front part oft he tongue is pressed against the root oft he upper teeth while the air is retained in the throat.	أَطْ

GROUP 8 - PALATAL LETTERS - Al-Hurufal-Lithawiyyah' (Hard palate and mid-tongue)
ث	ṯ	Interdental / fricative (streaming) /soundless	Tip of the tongue is set between the teeth and an "S" is pronounced. Voice is similar to English "TH".	أَثْ
ذ	ḏ	Interdental  / fricative (streaming) /sonant	Tip of the tongue is set between the teeth and an "Z" is pronounced. Voice is similar to English "DH".	أَذْ
ظ	ẓ	Interdental / fricative (streaming) /sonant	Tip of the tongue is put between the upper and lower teeth with a gentle pressure on the front of the palate and the root of the lower teeth.	أَظْ

GROUP 9 - FRONT-PALATAL LETTERS - Al-Huruf al-Asaliyyah (The lower incisors and the top of language)
س	S	Alveolar (gums) / fricative (streaming) /nonsonant	Top of the tongue is leaned to the gums behind the lower incisors, teeth are closed together and an "S" is pronounced. Voice is the same as in English language.	أَسْ
ز	Z	Alveolar (gums) / fricative (streaming) /sonant	Top of the tongue are leaned against the gums behind the lower incisors, teeth are closed to each other and an "Z" is pronounced. Voice is the same as in English language.	أَزْ
ص	ṣ	Alveolar (gums) / fricative (streaming) /nonsonant	The front part of the tongue is leaned to the edge of the lower incisors, the last part of the tongue rised (thicker) to the palate, and the air left through the tongue part, keeping the sound in the throat.	أَصْ

GROUP 10 - LETTER DAD - al-Harf Dad (The upper molars and the tongue top)
ض	ḑ	Dental / plosive /sonant	Tip of the tongue is pressing base of the upper incisors, while the anterior part of the language is pressed against the root of the upper teeth.	أَضْ