Names of Letters

Letters are given labels according to their articulation points or nearby regions. The first to establish these labels was Al-Khalil ibn Ahmad in his book "Al-'Ayn."

1. The Cavity, Airy, Madd Letters (Al-Jawfiyyah)

These are the three Madd letters (Alif, Waw, Yaa). They are labeled "cavity letters" (Jawfiyyah) since they emerge from Al-Jawf, as explained in the section on the first articulation point. They are labeled "airy" (Hawa'iyyah) because air escapes with them when pronounced. In Arabic morphology, they are also called the "weak letters" (Huroof Al-'Illah).

2. The Throat Letters (Al-Halqiyyah)

These are Hamzah, Haa, 'Ayn, Haa (heavy), Ghayn, and Khaa.

3. The Uvular Letters (Al-Lahawiyyah)

These are Kaaf and Qaf, named after "Al-Lahat," the fleshy tissue overlooking the throat at the back of the roof of the mouth.

4. The Palatal Letters (Ash-Shajariyyah)

Named after "Shajr Al-Fam," the open area between the two jaws. Scholars differ on which letters belong here: some say Jeem, Sheen, and the non-Madd Yaa; others say Jeem, Sheen, and Ddaad; and others say Jeem, Sheen, Ddaad, and the non-Madd Yaa — this last view being closest to correct.

5. The Fluent Letters (Adh-Dhalqiyyah)

These are Lam, Noon, and Raa, named after "Dhalq Al-Lisan" (the tip of the tongue), due to their lightness and the speed with which they are pronounced.

6. The Dental Letters (An-Nat'iyyah)

These are Ttaa, Taa, and Daal, named for emerging from "Nat' Al-Hanak" (the roof of the mouth), the visible ridge at the top of the inside of the mouth.

7. The Whistling Letters (Al-Asaliyyah)

These are Saad, Zaa, and Seen, named after "Asalat Al-Lisan," the fine tip of the tongue. These three letters share the quality of Safeer (a whistling sound) and are articulated from the thin tip of the tongue.

8. The Gum Letters (Al-Lathawiyyah)

These are Zhaa, Dhaal, and Thaa, emerging near "Al-Lithah" (the gums), the fleshy area surrounding the teeth.

9. The Labial Letters (Ash-Shafawiyyah)

These are Faa, the non-Madd Waw, Baa, and Meem, named for emerging from the lips, or from the inner lower lip together with the edges of the upper front teeth (in the case of Faa).