This lesson offers easy tips and techniques to master writing and pronouncing Arabic letters.

The Arabic letter ي (Yāʾ, ياء) is the 28th and final letter of the Arabic alphabet. It represents the “y” sound, as in yes, and it can also represent the long vowel “ee” sound, as in see. Because of these two functions, ي is one of the most frequently used letters in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).

Therefore, in this comprehensive lesson, you will learn how to write and pronounce Yāʾ correctly, and understand how its shape and sound change in different word positions.

What Is the Letter ي?

• Arabic name: ياء
• Transliteration: Yāʾ
• English equivalent: Y (sometimes long ee)
• Letter order: 28th (last) letter of the Arabic alphabet
• Numeric value (Abjad): 10

Unlike many Arabic letters, ي has two dots underneath. These dots are essential. Without them, the letter becomes ى (Alif Maqṣūrah), which is a completely different letter.

How to Write the Letter ي

Like most Arabic letters, ي changes its shape depending on its position in a word.

Stroke Order

1. Start with the curved body of the letter.
2. Draw the tail extending to the left.
3. Add two dots below the letter.

Always remember that the dots are written after the main body.

How to Pronounce ي

Indeed, the letter ي has two distinct pronunciations depending on its role within a word.

1. The consonant sound /y/

When ي has a vowel (fatḥah, kasrah, or ḍammah), it is pronounced like the English y in yes.

Examples:

• يَد (yad) — hand
• يَوْم (yawm) — day
• يَكْتُب (yaktubu) — he writes

The tongue moves close to the roof of the mouth without blocking the airflow.

2. The long vowel /ī/

When ي comes after a letter with kasrah (ِ ) and carries no vowel itself, it produces a long “ee” sound.

Examples:

• كَبِير (kabīr) — big
• جَمِيل (jamīl) — beautiful
• فِي (fī) — in

This sound is held approximately twice as long as a short vowel.

Letter Connections

The letter ي connects to both the preceding and following letters.

Examples:

Notice how the shape changes depending on where the letter appears.

Examples of ي in Different Positions

At the beginning

• يَد (yad) — hand
• يَوْم (yawm) — day
• يَمِين (yamīn) — right side

In the middle

• بَيْت (bayt) — house
• سَيَّارَة (sayyārah) — car
• خَيْر (khayr) — goodness

At the end

• فِي (fī) — in
• عَلِيّ (ʿAliyy) — Ali
• كُرْسِي (kursī) — chair

Common Pronunciation Mistakes

Confusing ي with ى

These letters look similar but are different.

• ي has two dots
• ى has no dots

Examples:

• يَد (yad)
• فَتَى (fatā)

Never omit the dots when writing ي.

Pronouncing the long vowel too briefly

Incorrect:

• كَبِر

Correct:

• كَبِير (kabīr)

The long ī should be noticeably longer than a short vowel.

Replacing ي with the English J sound

Some beginners accidentally pronounce ي like English j.

Incorrect:

• jad

Correct:

• yad

The correct sound is always like the English y in yes.

Words That Use the Letter ي

Practice Reading

Read these words aloud slowly.

• يَد
• يَوْم
• بَيْت
• سَيَّارَة
• كَبِير
• جَمِيل
• مَدِينَة
• فِي
• كُرْسِي
• حَيَاة

Try first to identify whether ي is acting as a consonant (y) or a long vowel (ī).

Writing Practice

Practice writing each form several times.

ي   ي   ي   ي

يـ   يـ   يـ

ـيـ   ـيـ   ـيـ

ـي   ـي   ـي

Then copy these complete words:

يَد

يَوْم

بَيْت

كَبِير

جَمِيل

مَدِينَة

كُرْسِي

Focus on keeping the two dots directly beneath the letter and writing smooth, connected strokes.

Quick Review

• ي is called Yāʾ (ياء).
• It is the 28th and final letter of the Arabic alphabet.
• It has two dots below the letter.
• It represents either the consonant /y/ (as in yes) or the long vowel /ī/ (as in see).
• It connects to both the letter before and after it.
• It changes shape depending on its position in a word.
• Do not confuse ي with ى, which has no dots and serves a different purpose.
• Regular reading and writing practice will help you recognize immediately whether ي is functioning as a consonant or as a long vowel.