Encyclopedic Reference Guide to the Arabic Alphabet and Script Forms (copy)

Cursive Nature of Arabic Writing

The Arabic writing system where letters change form based on their position within a word: Initial, Medial, Final, or Separate.

Form Positions

The distinct forms of Arabic letters: Initial, Medial, Final, and Separate.

Daal

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{د}$, Medial form $\text{ـد}$, Final form $\text{ـد}$, and Separate form $\text{د}$, pronounced as $\text{d}$.

Dhaal

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{ذ}$, Medial form $\text{ـذ}$, Final form $\text{ـذ}$, and Separate form $\text{ذ}$, pronounced as $\text{dh}$.

Pronunciation of Haa'

Represents a voiceless pharyngeal fricative, with the Initial form $\text{حـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـحـ}$, Final form $\text{ـح}$, and Separate form $\text{ح}$.

Pronunciation of Khaa'

Represents a voiceless velar fricative, with the Initial form $\text{خـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـخـ}$, Final form $\text{ـخ}$, and Separate form $\text{خ}$.

Siin

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{سـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـسـ}$, Final form $\text{ـس}$, and Separate form $\text{س}$, pronounced as $\text{s}$.

Shiin

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{شـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـشـ}$, Final form $\text{ـش}$, and Separate form $\text{ش}$, pronounced as $\text{sh}$.

Saad

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{صـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـصـ}$, Final form $\text{ـص}$, and Separate form $\text{ص}$, pronounced as $\text{S}$, representing an emphatic 's'.

Daad

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{ضـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـضـ}$, Final form $\text{ـض}$, and Separate form $\text{ض}$, pronounced as $\text{D}$, representing an emphatic 'd'.

Ain

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{عـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـعـ}$, Final form $\text{ـع}$, and Separate form $\text{ع}$, pronounced as $\text{'' (glottal/pharyngeal stop/fricative)}$.

Ghain

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{غـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـغـ}$, Final form $\text{ـغ}$, and Separate form $\text{غ}$, pronounced as $\text{gh}$.

Faa'

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{فـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـفـ}$, Final form $\text{ـف}$, and Separate form $\text{ف}$, pronounced as $\text{f}$.

Qaaf

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{قـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـقـ}$, Final form $\text{ـق}$, and Separate form $\text{ق}$, pronounced as $\text{q}$, representing a voiceless uvular plosive.

Kaaf

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{كـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـكـ}$, Final form $\text{ـك}$, and Separate form $\text{ك}$, pronounced as $\text{k}$.

Laam

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{لـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـلـ}$, Final form $\text{ـل}$, and Separate form $\text{ل}$, pronounced as $\text{l}$.

Miim

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{مـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـمـ}$, Final form $\text{ـم}$, and Separate form $\text{م}$, pronounced as $\text{m}$.

Nuun

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{نـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـنـ}$, Final form $\text{ـن}$, and Separate form $\text{ن}$, pronounced as $\text{n}$.

Haa'

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{هـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـهـ}$, Final form $\text{ـه}$, and Separate form $\text{ه}$, pronounced as $\text{h}$.

Waaw

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{و}$, Medial form $\text{ـو}$, Final form $\text{ـو}$, and Separate form $\text{و}$, pronounced as $\text{w}$.

Yaa'

An Arabic letter with the Initial form $\text{يـ}$, Medial form $\text{ـيـ}$, Final form $\text{ـي}$, and Separate form $\text{ي}$, pronounced as $\text{y}$.