Lām
لَام
Shapes in a word
ل
alone
لـ
start
ـلـ
middle
ـل
end
A light, clear “l” (as in “leaf”). It is heavy only in the name “Allah” after a fatha or damma.
In the Quran
Voiced · الجَهْرIn between · التَّوَسُّطLowered (light) · الاسْتِفَالOpen · الانْفِتَاحFluent · الإِذْلَاقLeaning · الانْحِرَاف
9
Front edges and tip of the tongue with the gum ridge
The front part of the tongue's edges and its tip touch the gums of the upper front teeth; air slips around the sides.
Touch the gum ridge with the tip and the front edges of the tongue; the sound slips around its sides.
More words with ل
لَWith fatha
لِWith kasra
لُWith damma
لْWith 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. |
| Fluent | الإِذْلَاق | Made at the tip of the tongue or the lips, so it is quick and easy to say. |
| Leaning | الانْحِرَاف | The sound leans away from its makhraj: ل toward the sides of the tongue, ر toward the back of the tip. |