How to Pronounce dhāʾ

Meaning and Context

Dhāʾ (ذ) is the ninth letter of the Arabic alphabet, classified as an interdental fricative consonant with a voiced pronunciation, similar to the "th" sound in the English words "this" or "that." It is one of the six letters in the Arabic language that do not have a direct equivalent in the standard Latin alphabet, making its accurate transliteration and pronunciation a key focus for students of Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, and Quranic recitation (tajwīd). The letter is derived from the same historical root as the letter dāl (د), but its distinct voiced "th" sound is essential for meaning, as it differentiates words in minimal pairs, such as "darb" (ضرب - to hit) versus "dharb" (ذَرْب - skill). Mastery of dhāʾ is crucial for proper articulation in Islamic studies and for linguistic accuracy in Semitic language research, impacting everything from verb conjugations to the correct enunciation of key religious terms like "dhikr" (ذِكْر - remembrance of God). Its unique phonetic place underscores the richness and precision of the Arabic linguistic system.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary challenge with dhāʾ lies in its transliteration into the Latin script, leading to multiple spelling conventions. The most academically common transliteration is "dh," as seen in words like "dhikr" or "hādha" (هَذَا - this). However, alternative spellings are frequent: "th" is often used (e.g., "thikr"), though this can cause confusion with the letter thāʾ (ث), which is voiceless (like "thin"). In older or regional transliterations, one might encounter "z" or "ḏ" (d with a line beneath). Common typos and errors include substituting the letter with a simple "d" (د) due to phonetic similarity for non-native speakers, or confusing its shape with that of dāl (د) or even wāw (و) in certain cursive script fonts. When typing in Arabic, a frequent error is pressing the key for the similar-sounding Persian letter "ز" (zāl) instead of the correct Arabic "ذ."

Example Sentences

The student practiced the pronunciation of dhāʾ repeatedly to distinguish it from the softer dāl.

In the Quranic verse, the word "hādhā" begins with a clearly articulated dhāʾ.

Linguists note that the phoneme dhāʾ has been lost in many colloquial Arabic dialects, often merging with the sound of dāl or zāy.

Proper dhikr requires not only spiritual presence but also correct phonetic articulation of letters like the dhāʾ.

The Arabic name "Thābit," often transliterated with a th, is more accurately written with a dhāʾ to reflect its voiced sound.

Related Pronunciations

• How to pronounce nūn
• How to pronounce dah
• How to pronounce dāl
• How to pronounce Arabic: ر Rā
• How to pronounce fāʾ