ʿAyn
عَيْن
Shapes in a word
ع
alone
عـ
start
ـعـ
middle
ـع
end
A voiced squeeze in the middle of the throat. There is no English equivalent — it is not a hamzah.
In the Quran
Voiced · الجَهْرIn between · التَّوَسُّطLowered (light) · الاسْتِفَالOpen · الانْفِتَاحRestrained · الإِصْمَات
3
Middle of the throat
The throat narrows in its middle, behind the root of the tongue.
Tighten the middle of the throat as if about to gag, and let your voice pass through.
More words with ع
عَWith fatha
عِWith kasra
عُWith damma
عْWith sukun
Characteristics (ṣifāt)
| Voiced | الجَهْر | The breath is held back and the voice carries the letter. |
| In between | التَّوَسُّط | The sound neither stops completely nor flows freely. |
| Lowered (light) | الاسْتِفَال | The tongue stays low, so the letter sounds light. |
| Open | الانْفِتَاح | The tongue stays apart from the palate. |
| Restrained | الإِصْمَات | Made further in, so it takes more care to say. |