This detailed guide explains how to write and pronounce the Arabic letter ذ {dẖāl}.

This video provides easy tips and techniques to make writing and pronouncing Arabic letters an accessible task.

🚥 Timestamp: 🚥

00:00 Intro to the letter ذ {dẖāl}
00:10 How to write the Arabic letter ذ {dẖāl}
00:28 How to pronounce the Arabic letter ذ {dẖāl}?
00:46 The different forms of writing the letter ذ {dẖāl} according to its positions.
01:54 The difference between ض and ذ; [ض vs ذ].
02:15 How to pronounce the Arabic letter ذ {dẖāl} with harakat (Arabic vowles); Shaddah, damma, kassrah, tanween, sukoun, mad?
03:05 Let’s practice how to pronounce the letter ذ {dẖāl}.

The Arabic letter ذ (dhāl) is the 9th letter of the Arabic alphabet. It is one of the easiest letters to recognize because it looks almost identical to د (dāl), except that ذ has one dot above it.

For many learners, ذ can be challenging because its sound does not exist in many languages. In Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), it is pronounced like the “th” in the English word “this” or “those.”

Unlike English, Arabic has two different “th” sounds:

• ث (thāʾ) = like th in think
• ذ (dhāl) = like th in this

Learning to distinguish these two sounds is an important step toward accurate Arabic pronunciation.

How to Write the Letter ذ

The letter ذ is written with a single curved stroke and one dot above it.

It has only two forms because it does not connect to the following letter.

Isolated Form

ذ

Example:

ذ

Initial Form

There is no initial form.

Since ذ is a non-connecting letter, it cannot join to the letter after it.

Medial Form

There is no medial form.

Final Form

When another letter comes before ذ, it connects from the right only.

Example:

ـذ

Stroke Order

To write ذ correctly:

1. Draw the same curved shape used for د.
2. Lift your pen.
3. Place one dot above the letter.

Remember:

• The dot is always above the letter.
• Without the dot, the letter becomes د (dāl), which has a completely different pronunciation.

How to Pronounce ذ

ذ

The letter ذ is pronounced like the voiced “th” sound in the English words:

• this
• that
• those
• mother
• brother

How to Produce the Sound

1. Place the tip of your tongue lightly between your upper and lower front teeth.
2. Let the air pass gently.
3. Vibrate your vocal cords while making the sound.

If you touch your throat while pronouncing ذ, you should feel vibration.

English Approximation

The closest English sound is:

TH → this

Examples:

• this
• that
• those
• mother
• brother

Although English provides a good approximation, the Arabic pronunciation is usually clearer and more consistent.

Common Pronunciation Mistakes

Many beginners replace ذ with another sound.

Saying د instead of ذ

Incorrect:

• د

Correct:

• ذ

This changes the pronunciation completely.

Saying ز instead of ذ

Some learners pronounce it like z.

Incorrect:

• ز

Correct:

• ذ

Saying ث instead of ذ

Remember the difference:

• ث = think
• ذ = this

The tongue position is nearly identical, but:

• ث has no voice
• ذ uses voice

Letter Connections

The letter ذ connects only to the letter before it.

Examples:

• بَذ
• كَذ
• فَذ

It never connects to the following letter.

Examples of Arabic Words with ذ

Practice Reading

Read these aloud slowly:

• ذَ
• ذُ
• ذِ

Then practice:

• ذَا
• ذُو
• ذِي

Finally, read these words:

• ذَهَب
• ذَكِيّ
• ذِكْر
• ذِئْب
• ذُرَّة

Focus on keeping the voiced “th” sound in every word.

Tips for Mastering ذ

• Remember that ذ is simply د with one dot above it.
• Think of the English word “this” whenever you see ذ.
• Keep your tongue lightly between your teeth.
• Make sure your vocal cords vibrate.
• Practice minimal pairs with د, ز, and ث to hear the difference.
• Read Arabic words aloud every day until the pronunciation becomes natural.

Summary

The Arabic letter ذ (dhāl) is the 9th letter of the Arabic alphabet. It is written like د but with one dot above it, and it does not connect to the following letter. Its pronunciation is the voiced “th” sound, similar to the “th” in the English word “this.” Because many languages do not have this sound, beginners often confuse it with د, ز, or ث. With regular practice and careful attention to tongue placement and voicing, you’ll soon be able to recognize, write, and pronounce ذ accurately in Modern Standard Arabic.