Understanding where every Arabic sound comes from
Each Arabic letter has a unique articulation point—called a Makhraj (مَخْرَج)—from which it originates. You can recognize a letter’s Makhraj by placing a sukoon ( ْ ) or a shaddah ( ّ ) on it and pronouncing it clearly. Sometimes, multiple letters may share the same articulation point.
According to the majority of scholars, Arabic letters have 17 articulation points, grouped into five main areas:
- Al-Jawf (The oral cavity)
- Al-Halq (The throat)
- Al-Lisan (The tongue)
- Ash-Shafatan (The lips)
- Al-Khayashim (The nasal cavity)
Let’s break each one down.
1. Al-Jawf (The Oral Cavity)
This refers to the empty space in the mouth and throat. It includes one articulation point for the three elongated letters (حروف المد – long vowels), known as Jawfi letters:
- ا – alif preceded by a fatḥah
- و – wāw preceded by a ḍammah
- ي – yā’ preceded by a kasrah
These letters are stretched in sound and have no specific contact point within the mouth.
2. Al-Halq (The Throat)
The throat contains three articulation zones, producing six letters known as Halqi letters (الحروف الحلقية):
Zones and Corresponding Letters:
- Lowest throat (أقصى الحلق) – near the chest
- ء (hamzah), هـ (hā’)
- Middle throat (وسط الحلق)
- ع (‘ayn), ح (ḥā’)
- Top of the throat (أدنى الحلق) – close to the mouth
- غ (ghayn), خ (khā’)
These letters emerge from deep within and often require careful pronunciation.
3. Al-Lisan (The Tongue)
The tongue is the most dynamic articulator, producing 18 letters from 10 distinct points.
Key Tongue Articulation Points:
- Deep back of the tongue (near throat):
- ق (qāf)
- Just under the qāf area:
- ك (kāf)
- Middle of the tongue:
- ج (jīm), ش (shīn), ي (non-madd yā’)
- Sides of the tongue near upper molars:
- ض (ḍād) – one of the hardest Arabic letters to pronounce!
- Edges of the tongue touching upper gums:
- ل (lām)
- Tip of the tongue touching the upper gums:
- ن (nūn)
- Slightly inward from nūn’s Makhraj:
- ر (rā’)
- Tip of the tongue with roots of upper front teeth:
- ط (ṭā’), د (dāl), ت (tā’)
- Tip of the tongue with edges of upper front teeth:
- ظ (ẓā’), ذ (dhāl), ث (thā’)
- Tip of the tongue between upper and lower teeth:
- س (sīn), ز (zāy), ص (ṣād) – Known as Harf al-Safīr (the whistling letters) due to their sharp sound
4. Ash-Shafatan (The Lips)
The lips form two primary articulation points and produce four letters:
- Inner lower lip touching upper teeth:
- ف (fā’)
- Both lips touching or near each other:
- ب (bā’), م (mīm) when closed
- و (non-madd wāw) when slightly open
5. Al-Khayashim (The Nasal Cavity)
The nasal cavity, or khayshūm, produces the ghunnah or nasal sound.
- Letters:
- م (mīm), ن (nūn) when ghunnah is applied
- Tanmīn (ً ٍ ٌ) also shares this nasal resonance
Ghunnah (غُنَّة) is a sustained nasal sound, often lasting 2 counts (مقدار حركتين).
💡 Quranic Reference
The beauty and precision of Arabic pronunciation are honored in the Quran:
وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا
“And recite the Qur’an with measured recitation.”
— Surah Al-Muzzammil (73:4)
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