Transliteration of Arabic Letters

Transliteration used in site: [click here]

Recognize the Roman transliteration of the Arabic letters.

Note: While listening to each letter below you will hear it twice. The first time is the name of the letter and the second time is the sound of the letter.

Arabic script

Transliteration used on site

Name of letter

أ

a

1 (alif)

ب

b

2 (bi)

ت

t

3 (ti)

ث

th, t, s

4 (thi)

ج

g

5 (giim)

ح

ḥ

6 (ḥa)

See all of the transliterated letters

Take note [click here]

Take note...

1- Use the above transliterated letters if you do not wish to learn to read Arabic text.

Arabic Complete does not transliterate Classical Arabic since MSA students must learn to read Arabic text.

Classical Arabic = MSA = Standard Arabic = Fusha = formal written Arabic. Yup, these are a lot of ways to say the same thing!

Arabic Complete uses "MSA/Classical" to signify formal Arabic.

Arabic Complete places a dot under transliterated heavy sounds. For example: ḍ - ṣ - ṭ - ẓ

3- Arabic Complete transliteration reflects how native speakers speak and not how the actual words are spelt in Arabic text.

For instance, even if a word is spelt with a long vowel it may appear as a short vowel if it is pronounced that way.

2- If you intend to learn the Arabic letters then listen to the "alif-bi-tis" (abc song) played on the piano!

Shortly after learning the Arabic letters learn to use the Arabic dictionary. Don't put it off! It takes practice to be able to use an Arabic dictionary well because of the root system.

Tip: Write out your "alif-bi-tis" (abc's) on a flash card and place the flashcard in your dictionary. This will help you remember the order of the letters.

[01] transliterated letters and how they work...