Foundation Reference

The Arabic Alphabet

28 letters. Letters marked with a Gulf note sound different in spoken Gulf Arabic compared to Modern Standard Arabic.

اAlefa

بBab

تTat

ثThath

جJimj

حHaḥ

خKhakh

دDald

ذDhaldh

رRar

زZayz

سSins

شShinsh

صSadṣ

ضDadḍ

طTahṭ

ظDhahẓ

عAinʿ

غGhaingh

فFaf

قQafq

كKafk

لLaml

مMimm

نNunn

هHah

وWaww

يYay

Gulf Arabic Notes

جJim — Gulf: often 'g' or 'y'

حHa — deep throat h

صSad — emphatic s

ضDad — emphatic d

طTah — emphatic t

ظDhah — emphatic dh

عAin — voiced pharyngeal

قQaf — Gulf: often 'g'

وWaw — also long vowel ū

يYa — also long vowel ī