What is the difference between Similar Sounding Arabic Letters ع and ا?
Both Arabic letters have very similar sounds.It is hard for learners to differentiate between them without good practice.Following factors can help learner a lot to understand the difference.
Factors Differentiating Similar Sounding Letters in Arabic
Letter ع
- Letter ع has rather a soft sound.
- It is pronounced from middle of throat.
- It make some resistance in throat.
- It does not make any madd
Letter ا
- Letter ا has a hard and straight sound.
- It is pronounced from part of throat towards the chest {as throat is divide into three parts, starting of throat part towards the mouth,middle throat, and distant part of throat part which is towards the chest}
- It does not make any resistance in throat.
- This letter when followed by fatha make Alif madd الف مد
Words With ع
- عِمارة apartment
- عَلَم flag
- سُعال cough
- عِبْرَة lesson
- رَعي to guard
Words With ا
- إمارة emirate
- اَلَم pain
- سُوْال question
- إبْرة needle
- رَأي to see