Jiim, ḥaa, and khaa
Use the shared hook and its dot position to distinguish three sounds.
Look at the letter then pronounce it
These letters share a hooked body. In joined writing the hook becomes smaller, but the dot contrast remains. This course uses Modern Standard Arabic; regional pronunciations can differ. Doubled vowels in names (aa, ii, uu) mean hold the vowel longer.
ج ح خ
jiim / ḥaa / khaa
jiim
A hooked body with a dot below its upper part, inside the isolated bowl. j as in jam in the Standard Arabic model used here.isolated: جinitial: جـmedial: ـجـfinal: ـج
ج
jiim
ḥaa
A hooked body with no dot. ḥ is a breathy, voiceless sound made by narrowing the throat; English has no exact equivalent.isolated: حinitial: حـmedial: ـحـfinal: ـح
ح
ḥaa
khaa
A hooked body with one dot above. kh like ch in Scottish loch, with friction toward the back of the mouth.isolated: خinitial: خـmedial: ـخـfinal: ـخ
خ
khaa