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Learn How to Pronounce Arabic script: hamzah | YouPronounce.it

How to Pronounce Arabic script: hamzah

Quick Answer: In Arabic, the word hamzah is pronounced [ˈham.za].
(Listen to the audio below for the stress and intonation)

Meaning and Context

The hamzah (ء) is a fundamental orthographic symbol in the Arabic script, representing the glottal stop, a consonantal sound produced by a brief closure and release of the vocal cords. Functioning as both a standalone letter and a diacritical mark, it is a critical element for correct pronunciation and meaning in Arabic grammar and Quranic recitation. Its placement is governed by complex rules, often determined by the surrounding vowels (harakat), and it can sit on the line or be carried by one of three "seats" or "chairs": the alif (أ), waw (ؤ), or ya' (ئ). Mastering the hamzah rules (qawa'id al-hamzah) is essential for proper Arabic writing and literacy, as its position can change the meaning of a word entirely. Its correct application is a hallmark of linguistic precision in both classical and modern standard Arabic, impacting everything from Arabic calligraphy to digital text encoding.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary term "hamzah" is itself subject to several transliterations and common misspellings into the Latin alphabet. The most accepted transliterations are "hamza" (omitting the 'h') and "hamzah," with the former being very widespread in academic and technical contexts. Common misspellings and variants include "hamzaa," "hamzah," "hamzeh," and "hamdah," the last being a frequent error due to the visual similarity between the Arabic letters dal (د) and reh (ر) in some fonts when followed by a tah marbutah (ة). In non-specialist texts, it is sometimes incorrectly referred to generically as an "accent mark" or "apostrophe," though these terms fail to capture its function as a full consonant. When searching for information, using both "hamza" and "hamzah" as SEO keywords is advisable to capture the full range of available resources.

Example Sentences

The student carefully practiced writing the hamzah on its alif seat to distinguish between the words "أكل" (he ate) and "كل" (every).

In Tajweed, the proper pronunciation of the hamzah, whether with full strength (hamzah qat'iyah) or a lighter connection (hamzah wasl), is crucial for accurate Quranic recitation.

The word "سأل" (he asked) contains a hamzah that must be clearly articulated to avoid confusion with "سال" (it flowed).

Modern Arabic keyboards have a dedicated key for the standalone hamzah (ء) to facilitate correct digital communication.

Linguists note that the hamzah is often elided in colloquial Arabic dialects, while it remains strictly observed in Modern Standard Arabic and classical texts.

Related Pronunciations


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