Arabic Alphabet & Transliteration Guide

A breakdown of Arabic characters, their Romanized equivalents, and approximate pronunciation
Arabic Letter Letter Name Roman Transliteration English Pronunciation
أ / اAlifa / āLike a in Apple
بBā’bLike b in Bat
تTā’tLike t in Top
ثThā’thLike th in Think
جJīmjLike j in Jam
حḤā’Strong aspirated h (deep throat)
خKhā’khLike ch in Bach (throaty)
دDāldLike d in Dog
ذDhāldhLike th in This
رRā’rRolled r (like red)
زZaynzLike z in Zebra
سSīnsLike s in Sun
شShīnshLike sh in Ship
صṢādEmphatic s (like saw)
ضḌādEmphatic d (like door)
طṬā’Emphatic t (like top)
ظẒā’Emphatic th (like that)
ع‘AynDeep guttural a sound
غGhaynghLike French r in Paris
فFā’fLike f in Fan
قQāfqDeep k from back of throat
كKāfkLike k in Kite
لLāmlLike l in Lamp
مMīmmLike m in Man
نNūnnLike n in Nose
هـHā’hLike h in Hat
وWāww / ūLike w in Wet or oo in Moon
يYā’y / īLike y in Yes or ee in Meet
Short Vowels (Diacritics)
  • Fatḥah ( َ ): Transliterated as a (like 'a' in cat).
  • Kasrah ( ِ ): Transliterated as i (like 'i' in sit).
  • Ḍammah ( ُ ): Transliterated as u (like 'u' in put).