Kāf
كَاف
Shapes in a word
ك
alone
كـ
start
ـكـ
middle
ـك
end
A light “k”, with a soft puff of breath.
In the Quran
Whispered · الهَمْسStrong (stopped) · الشِّدَّةLowered (light) · الاسْتِفَالOpen · الانْفِتَاحRestrained · الإِصْمَات
6
Back of the tongue, a little nearer the mouth than ق
The back of the tongue presses against the soft palate, just in front of where ق is made.
Press the back of the tongue against the soft palate, a little forward of ق, then release.
More words with ك
كَWith fatha
كِWith kasra
كُWith damma
كْWith sukun
Characteristics (ṣifāt)
| Whispered | الهَمْس | Breath keeps flowing with the letter, so it sounds airy. |
| Strong (stopped) | الشِّدَّة | The sound stops completely at the makhraj, then releases. |
| 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. |