The Arabic letter tha ث is the fourth letter of Arabic alphabets. Here you will learn how to pronounce letter tha ث in Arabic and how to write Arabic alphabet tha ث . You will also learn the different shapes of letter tha ث with examples.
Equivalent of letter tha ث in English
The letter tha ث equivalent in English is the combination of letters Th and it has “th” phonics.
It is unique in it self as it has three dots over it.
It has the same shape as of letter baa ب and ta ت but difference is that baa ب has one dot under it and it ت has two dots over it but tha ث has three dots over it.
As in Arabic letters dots n position of dot is very important as it can make big difference.
For example all three letters baa ب ta ت and tha ث has same shape . So in half shape it is numbering of dot and position of dot which make them different from each other.
| Letter | Half Shape |
| ب | بـ |
| ت | تـ |
| ث | ثـ |
You will learn it more in later posts as you will learn other Arabic letters.
How to pronounce tha ث
How to write tha ث
Different shapes of tha ث
| final | middle | starting | isolated |
| ـث | ـثـ | ثـ | ث |
Examples of tha ث in isolated shape:
حدث (hadatha) – event
Examples of tha ثـ in starting shape:
ثقافة (thaqafah) – culture
ثمانية (thamāniyah) – eight
ثورة (thawrah) – revolution
Examples of tha ـثـ in middle shape:
كثير (kathīr) – many
قلثة (qalithah) – few
عثمان (ʿUthmān) – a name (Uthman)
Examples of tha ـث in final shape:
حثيث (hathīth) – continuous
Articulation Point of tha ث
Letter tha ث is pronounce when the tip of tongue touch the lower end of the two top incisor
Tha ث is a sun letter
The distinction of “sun letters” (حروف الشمس) and “moon letters” (حروف القمر) is fundamental in determining the pronunciation of the definite article “ال” (al) when it precedes certain consonants in Arabic.
When the definite article “ال” is added to a word starting with a sun letter, a seamless assimilation occurs. For example, “الشمس” (ash-shams) means “the sun,” with the “l” sound smoothly blending into the following “sh.”
When the definite article “ال” is applied to words starting with moon letters, the “l” sound remains distinct. For instance, “القمر” (al-qamar) signifies “the moon,” with the “l” sound clearly separate from the following “q.”
So tha ” ث” is a sun letter
The letter “ث” (tha) in Arabic is indeed a sun letter. When the definite article “ال” (al) is prefixed to a word beginning with ” ث,” assimilation occurs, and the “l” sound of “al” combines with the “t” sound of “ث.”
Here are some examples:
- الثقافة (ath-thaqafah) – culture
- الثلاثة (ath-thalāthat) – three
- الثاني (ath-thānī) – second
- الثراء (ath-tharā’) – wealth
- الثوابت (ath-thawābit) – constants
- الثلج (ath-thalj) – snow
- الثقة (ath-thiqah) – trust
- الثلاثون (ath-thalāthūn) – thirty
- الثورة (ath-thawrah) – revolution
- الثغر (ath-thaghur) – gorge
Characteristics of letter tha ث
The traits of the letters set them apart from other letters that have the same articulation point.
The proper use of the letter characteristics clarifies the letters and explains the different timings of the saakin letters, which is a crucial concept.
It is evident from examining the qualities which letters have strong and weak makeup. This indicates that examining the qualities of the letters and how they are used is a crucial component.
Letters can be categorized according to what sets them apart:
- Contrasting Characteristics in Letters (الصِفَاتُ المُتَضادَة): These letters have different qualities.
- Letters with Distinctive Qualities: These lack diametrically opposed elements.
Characteristics of Arabic Letters with Contrasting Attributes (الصِفَاتُ المُتَضادَة)
Arabic letter tha ث has following Contrasting Attributes :
| LETTERS | 1. Al Hams – الْهَمْسُ / al Jahr – الجَهْرُ | 2. Ash-shidda – الشِّدَّةُ/al baynya – البَينية/ ar Rakhawa – الرَّخَاوَةُ | 3. Al-istiala – الاِسْتِعَلاءُ / al-istifal – الاسْتِفَالُ | 4. Al-itbaq الإِطْبَاق /. Al infitah الإِنْفِتَاح | 5. Al-idhlaq الإِذْلاقُ /. Al ismat(الإِصْمَات |
| tha ث | Al Hams – الْهَمْسُ | al baynya – البَينية | al-istifal – الاسْتِفَالُ | Al infitah الإِنْفِتَاح | Al ismat (الإِصْمَات |
Characteristics of Arabic Letters with Distinctive Attributes (الصِفَات غَيْر المُتَضادَة)
Arabic letter tha ث has following Distinctive Attributes :
| 1. As-Safeer (الصَفِير) | 2. Al-Qalqala (القَلْقَلَة) | 3. Al-leen – اللِّيْن | 4. Al inhiraf – الإِنْحِراف | 5. At-takreer – التَّكْرِير | 6. At tafashee – التَّفَشِي | 7. Al istitala – الإِسْتِطَالَة | 8. Al gunna – غُنّه |
| ————- | ———— | ———— | ———— | ———— | ———— | ———— | ———— |
Complete letters: