Learning the Arabic alphabet is the first step to reading the Quran and speaking Arabic. The good news: Arabic is written exactly as it is pronounced, so once you know the letters and their sounds, you can read any word. This beginner’s guide covers all the letters, how to pronounce them, the sounds that do not exist in English, and how the letters join together.
Want a teacher to check your pronunciation? Our Arabic reading course teaches the alphabet, joining and vowels in live 1-on-1 classes with native Arab teachers.
In this guide:
- How many letters are in the Arabic alphabet?
- All 28 letters with pronunciation
- Letters grouped by shape
- Sounds that do not exist in English
- Where Arabic sounds come from (Makharij)
- How letters join together
- Short vowels, long vowels, Tanween and Shaddah
- Sun and moon letters
- Your first Arabic words and a 4-week plan
- FAQ
Table of Contents
How Many Letters Are in the Arabic Alphabet?
The Arabic alphabet has 28 letters. Some books, such as the Noorani Qaida, count 29 because they list the hamza (ء) as a separate letter. Arabic is written and read from right to left, and there are no capital letters.
The Arabic Alphabet With Pronunciation
Here are all 28 letters in their standard order, with their names and the closest English sound:
| Letter | Name | Sound | How to pronounce it |
|---|---|---|---|
| ا | Alif | a / ā | A long “aa” sound; also carries the hamza (ء) |
| ب | Ba | b | Like “b” in “book” |
| ت | Ta | t | Like a light “t” in “tea” |
| ث | Tha | th | Like “th” in “think” |
| ج | Jim | j | Like “j” in “jam” |
| ح | Ḥa | ḥ | A strong breathy “h” from the middle of the throat (no English equivalent) |
| خ | Kha | kh | Like “ch” in the Scottish “loch” |
| د | Dal | d | Like “d” in “door” |
| ذ | Dhal | dh | Like “th” in “this” |
| ر | Ra | r | A rolled or tapped “r” |
| ز | Zay | z | Like “z” in “zoo” |
| س | Sin | s | Like “s” in “sun” |
| ش | Shin | sh | Like “sh” in “ship” |
| ص | Ṣad | ṣ | A heavy, full-mouthed “s” |
| ض | Ḍad | ḍ | A heavy “d” made with the side of the tongue |
| ط | Ṭa | ṭ | A heavy “t” |
| ظ | Ẓa | ẓ | A heavy “th” as in “this” |
| ع | ʿAyn | ʿ | A deep sound from the middle of the throat (no English equivalent) |
| غ | Ghayn | gh | Like the French “r” in “Paris” |
| ف | Fa | f | Like “f” in “fish” |
| ق | Qaf | q | A deep “k” from the very back of the tongue |
| ك | Kaf | k | Like “k” in “kite” |
| ل | Lam | l | Like “l” in “light” |
| م | Mim | m | Like “m” in “moon” |
| ن | Nun | n | Like “n” in “noon” |
| ه | Ha | h | A light “h” as in “house” |
| و | Waw | w / ū | Like “w” in “water”, or a long “oo” |
| ي | Ya | y / ī | Like “y” in “yes”, or a long “ee” |
Arabic Letters Grouped by Shape
Many Arabic letters share the same basic shape and differ only by the number or position of their dots. Learning them in groups is the fastest way to memorise the alphabet:
| Base shape | Letters | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| ب | ب ت ث | One dot below, two dots above, three dots above |
| ج | ج ح خ | Dot below, no dot, dot above |
| د | د ذ | No dot, one dot above |
| ر | ر ز | No dot, one dot above |
| س | س ش | No dots, three dots above |
| ص | ص ض | No dot, one dot above |
| ط | ط ظ | No dot, one dot above |
| ع | ع غ | No dot, one dot above |
| ف | ف ق | One dot above, two dots above (and a deeper bowl) |
Pay close attention to dots: a single missing dot turns one letter into another and changes the meaning of the word.
Arabic Sounds That Do Not Exist in English
Most beginners find these letters the hardest, because English has no equivalent for them: ح خ ع غ ق (throat and back-of-mouth sounds) and the heavy letters ص ض ط ظ. The best way to learn them is to listen to a native speaker and repeat, because reading a description is never enough. Pairs that beginners often confuse include:
- ه (light h) and ح (strong h)
- س (s) and ص (heavy s)
- ت (t) and ط (heavy t)
- ك (k) and ق (deep q)
- ء (hamza) and ع (ʿayn)
In the Quran, these differences change the meaning of words, which is why correct pronunciation (Makharij) is the foundation of Tajweed.
Where Arabic Sounds Come From (Makharij)
In Tajweed, the place where a letter is pronounced is called its makhraj (plural: makharij). Scholars of recitation group them into five main areas:
- The empty space of the mouth and throat (al-Jawf): the long vowels ا و ي when they are stretched.
- The throat (al-Halq): ء ه ع ح غ خ, from the deepest part of the throat to the closest.
- The tongue (al-Lisan): most of the letters, such as ق ك ج ش ي ل ن ر ت د ط.
- The lips (ash-Shafatan): ف ب م و.
- The nasal passage (al-Khayshum): the nasal sound (ghunnah) of ن and م.
Knowing the makhraj of each letter is what separates “almost right” from correct pronunciation, especially when reading the Quran.
To go deeper, read our guide to Tajweed rules for beginners.
How Arabic Letters Join Together
Arabic is a cursive script: most letters connect to the letter before and after them, and their shape changes slightly at the beginning, middle and end of a word. For example, the letter Ba looks like بـ at the start of a word, ـبـ in the middle and ـب at the end.
Six letters never connect to the letter after them: ا د ذ ر ز و. When one of them appears, the next letter starts a new connected group.
Here is how three letters look in each position:
| Letter | Alone | Start | Middle | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ba | ب | بـ | ـبـ | ـب |
| ʿAyn | ع | عـ | ـعـ | ـع |
| Ha | ه | هـ | ـهـ | ـه |
This is exactly what lesson 2 of the Noorani Qaida (joined letters) practises. Here is a revision of that lesson from our own teachers:
You can follow the same lessons in the free Noorani Qaida book online, or read our lesson-by-lesson Noorani Qaida guide.
Short Vowels (Harakat)
Short vowels are small marks written above or below the letters:
- Fatha ( بَ ): a short “a” sound, “ba”
- Kasra ( بِ ): a short “i” sound, “bi”
- Damma ( بُ ): a short “u” sound, “bu”
- Sukoon ( بْ ): no vowel, the letter is stopped
The Quran is always printed with these marks, so once you know them you can read it word by word, even before you understand the meaning.
Long Vowels, Tanween and Shaddah
Once you know the short vowels, three more marks complete the basics:
- Long vowels (Madd): ا after a fatha, و after a damma and ي after a kasra stretch the sound for two counts: بَا (baa), بُو (boo), بِي (bee).
- Tanween: a doubled vowel mark that adds an “n” sound at the end of a word: بً (ban), بٍ (bin), بٌ (bun).
- Shaddah ( ّ ): the letter is pronounced twice, once stopped and once with its vowel, as in رَبّ (rabb).
Sun and Moon Letters
When the word for “the” (ال, al-) comes before a noun, the letters split into two groups:
- Moon letters (the ل is pronounced): ا ب ج ح خ ع غ ف ق ك م ه و ي. Example: الْقَمَر al-qamar (the moon).
- Sun letters (the ل is silent and the next letter is doubled): ت ث د ذ ر ز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن. Example: الشَّمْس ash-shams (the sun).
There are 14 letters in each group, and the rule applies on every page of the Quran.
Two Special Letters: Hamza and Ta Marbuta
- Hamza (ء): a short catch in the throat, like the break in “uh-oh”. It can stand alone or sit on a “seat”: أ إ ؤ ئ.
- Ta Marbuta (ة): appears only at the end of words. It is read as “t” when you continue reading and as a light “h” when you stop, as in صَلَاة (salah).
Practice Reading: Your First Arabic Words
Try reading these simple words using everything above, then check the transliteration:
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| بَابٌ | baabun | a door |
| قَلَمٌ | qalamun | a pen |
| كِتَابٌ | kitaabun | a book |
| نُورٌ | noorun | light |
| مَسْجِدٌ | masjidun | a mosque |
| رَبٌّ | rabbun | a lord |
Then practise with this listen-and-repeat video of the whole alphabet:
A Simple 4-Week Plan to Learn the Arabic Alphabet
| Week | Focus | Daily practice (15–20 minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The 28 letters and their sounds | Learn 7 letters a day in shape groups, then revise them all |
| 2 | Joined letters | Read and write each letter at the start, middle and end of words |
| 3 | Short and long vowels | Read syllables like ba, bi, bu, baa, boo, bee |
| 4 | Tanween, Shaddah, sun and moon letters | Read short words and the first lines of the Noorani Qaida |
Children can follow the same plan more slowly. See our guide on how to teach the Quran to kids for tips that keep young learners motivated.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make
- Relying only on transliteration. Latin letters cannot show the difference between س and ص, or ه and ح.
- Ignoring the dots. ح and خ or ب and ت are different letters.
- Making every letter light. The heavy letters must sound full and deep.
- Rushing to read the Quran before the harakat and long vowels are solid.
- Learning without feedback. Small pronunciation mistakes become habits if nobody corrects them early.
Tips to Learn the Arabic Alphabet Faster
- Learn the letters in small groups of letters that share a shape, such as ب ت ث and ج ح خ, which differ only by their dots.
- Say every letter out loud and record yourself.
- Practise writing each letter in its four positions.
- Use a structured book such as the free Noorani Qaida book online.
- Get feedback from a teacher, especially for the throat and heavy letters.
Keep Learning
- Learn Arabic online: a guide for non-Arabic speakers
- Learning Quran for beginners: a step-by-step guide
- Tajweed rules for beginners
- Free Islamic e-books in PDF, including the Noorani Qaida
- Courses: Arabic reading, Noorani Qaida, Arabic language and Quran recitation with Tajweed
Arabic Alphabet FAQ
How long does it take to learn the Arabic alphabet?
With short daily practice, most beginners can recognise all the letters within one to three weeks. Reading fluently with vowels usually takes a few more weeks of regular practice.
Is the Arabic alphabet hard to learn?
Not really. There are only 28 letters and Arabic spelling is very regular. The main challenge is a few new sounds, which become easy with listening and correction.
Should I learn the alphabet before reading the Quran?
Yes. Knowing the letters and harakat is the foundation for reading the Quran correctly. Our Noorani Qaida course takes you from the alphabet to reading Quranic words, and our Arabic language course continues with speaking and understanding.
What is the first letter of the Arabic alphabet?
The first letter is Alif (ا) and the last is Ya (ي). The order Alif, Ba, Ta, Tha… is the one used in dictionaries and in the Noorani Qaida.
Is the Quran written with the same alphabet?
Yes. The Quran uses the same 28 letters, printed with full vowel marks and some extra recitation signs, usually in the Uthmani script. Once you know the alphabet and harakat, you can start reading the Quran with the help of a teacher.
Can I learn the Arabic alphabet online?
Yes. Many students learn it online in a few weeks. In our live 1-on-1 Arabic reading classes, a native Arab teacher listens to every letter and corrects you on the spot. Book a free trial class to try it.
