ق qaaf: the Arabic letter qaaf
qaaf (ق) is the 21st letter of the Arabic alphabet. It makes the sound q: a k from the back of the throat. It joins to the letters on both sides.
The shapes of qaaf
Arabic letters change shape depending on where they sit in a word. Arabic is read right to left.
qaaf with vowel marks
What are fatha, kasra and damma?
Words that start with qaaf
Letters that look like qaaf
These share a shape with ق and differ in their dots or a small detail. Children often mix them up, so it helps to learn them side by side.
Questions about qaaf
How do you pronounce the Arabic letter qaaf?
qaaf (ق) is the 21st letter of the Arabic alphabet. Its name is said "qaaf". It makes the sound q: a k from the back of the throat.
How do you write qaaf in Arabic?
On its own qaaf is written ق. It joins on both sides, so it has four shapes: on its own ق, at the start of a word ق, in the middle ق and at the end ق.
What is an Arabic word that starts with qaaf?
قِطّ (qiṭṭ) means "cat" and starts with qaaf. Others are قِرْد (qird, monkey), قَلَم (qalam, pencil), قَمَر (qamar, moon).
How does qaaf sound with vowel marks?
With a fatha it says qa (قَ), with a kasra qi (قِ) and with a damma qu (قُ).
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