ʿAyn and ghayn

Recognize two changing shapes and explore their throat sounds.

Look at the letter then pronounce it

The upper part changes noticeably when joined, especially in the middle and at the end. The dot still distinguishes ghayn. The symbol ʿ in transliteration always stands for ayn; it is not a vowel or a silent apostrophe.

ع غ

ʿayn / ghayn

ʿayn

An open upper curl in isolation, with no dot. ʿ is a voiced throat constriction with no exact English equivalent; keep it gentle.isolated: عinitial: عـmedial: ـعـfinal: ـع

ʿayn

ghayn

The ayn body with one dot above. gh is voiced friction near the back of the mouth, roughly like a French r; it is not g as in go.isolated: غinitial: غـmedial: ـغـfinal: ـغ

ghayn