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Letter 2 of 28

ب baa: the Arabic letter baa

بَاء

baa (ب) is the second letter of the Arabic alphabet. It makes the sound b: b as in ball. It joins to the letters on both sides.

The shapes of baa

Arabic letters change shape depending on where they sit in a word. Arabic is read right to left.

ب
On its own
ب‍
At the start
‍ب‍
In the middle
‍ب
At the end

baa with vowel marks

بَ
ba
with a fatha
بِ
bi
with a kasra
بُ
bu
with a damma
بَا
baa
long vowel
بِي
bee
long vowel
بُو
boo
long vowel

What are fatha, kasra and damma?

Words that start with baa

بَطَّة
baṭṭa · duck
بَقَرَة
baqara · cow
بَيْض
bayḍ · eggs
بُرْتُقَال
burtuqaal · orange
بِطِّيخ
baṭṭeekh · watermelon
بُرْتُقَالِيّ
burtuqaalee · orange (colour)

Letters that look like baa

These share a shape with ب and differ in their dots or a small detail. Children often mix them up, so it helps to learn them side by side.

تtaaثthaaنnoonيyaa

Questions about baa

How do you pronounce the Arabic letter baa?

baa (ب) is the second letter of the Arabic alphabet. Its name is said "baa". It makes the sound b: b as in ball.

How do you write baa in Arabic?

On its own baa is written ب. It joins on both sides, so it has four shapes: on its own ب, at the start of a word ب‍, in the middle ‍ب‍ and at the end ‍ب.

What is an Arabic word that starts with baa?

بَطَّة (baṭṭa) means "duck" and starts with baa. Others are بَقَرَة (baqara, cow), بَيْض (bayḍ, eggs), بُرْتُقَال (burtuqaal, orange), بِطِّيخ (baṭṭeekh, watermelon), بُرْتُقَالِيّ (burtuqaalee, orange (colour)).

How does baa sound with vowel marks?

With a fatha it says ba (بَ), with a kasra bi (بِ) and with a damma bu (بُ).

Practise baa with Hudhud

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