How to Pronounce Arabic: ذ Dhāl

Meaning and Context

The letter Dhāl (ذ), transliterated as dh, is the ninth character in the standard sequence of the Arabic abjad. It is classified as a voiced interdental fricative, a precise phonetic description for the sound it represents, which is analogous to the soft "th" in English words like "this," "there," and "father." This distinct phoneme is a cornerstone of Arabic pronunciation and a key differentiator in many minimal pairs, where its voiced quality contrasts with the unvoiced counterpart, the letter Thāʾ (ث). Mastery of the Dhāl sound is essential for accurate Quranic recitation and proper spoken Arabic, as its mispronunciation can alter word meanings. The letter's form is derived from its sister letter Dāl (د), distinguished by the addition of a single dot above it, a common diacritical pattern in the Arabic alphabet. While the classical name is Dhāl, regional variations in the Arabic dialect spectrum lead to alternative pronunciations of the letter's name itself, such as Dhāʾ or Dhah.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

Given its unique phonetic value, which does not have a direct equivalent in many languages, the letter Dhāl is frequently subject to transliteration and typing errors. The most common issue is the confusion between ذ (Dhāl) and ز (Zāy), as both can be perceived as a "z" sound by non-native speakers, though they are phonemically distinct. In Romanization, the standard representation is dh (e.g., dhahab for gold, ذَهَب), but it is often incorrectly rendered as a simple d or z. Common typos in Arabic script include substituting it with د (Dāl) by forgetting the single dot, or with ث (Thāʾ) by misplacing the dots. The letter's name is also variably spelled in Latin script as Dhal, Dhaal, Zal, or Zaal, though the latter two are less accurate as they suggest a different sound. Learners should be vigilant to differentiate ذ from the graphically similar letter ر (Rāʾ), which has no dots and a different stroke curvature.

Example Sentences

The word ذَهَبَ (dhahaba), meaning "he went," begins with the letter Dhāl, showcasing its characteristic voiced "th" sound.

In the famous Arabic phrase ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ (dhālika al-kitābu, "That is the book"), the demonstrative pronoun hinges on the correct articulation of the ذ.

A classic example of the Dhāl and Thāʾ contrast is found in the pair ذَهَب (dhahab, "gold") and ثَهَب (thahab, a rare root), illustrating why precise pronunciation matters.

When practicing the alphabet, children often chant "د ذ ر" (dāl, dhāl, rāʾ) to learn the sequence of these visually related letters.

The poet's use of ذ in ذَوْق (dhawq, "taste" or "aesthetic sense") added a layer of sonorous depth to the verse.

Related Pronunciations

• How to pronounce ḥāʾ
• How to pronounce khah
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• How to pronounce Arabic: ج Jīm
• How to pronounce Arabic: م Mīm