Ẓā
ظَاء
Shapes in a word
ظ
alone
ظـ
start
ـظـ
middle
ـظ
end
A heavy “th” as in “this” — never “z”.
In the Quran
Voiced · الجَهْرSoft (flowing) · الرَّخَاوَةElevated (heavy) · الاسْتِعْلَاءClosed (covered) · الإِطْبَاقRestrained · الإِصْمَات
14
Tip of the tongue with the edges of the upper front teeth
The tip of the tongue touches the biting edges of the upper front teeth — it peeks out a little.
Same place as ذ, tongue tip at the edges of the upper teeth, with the back of the tongue raised.
More words with ظ
ظَWith fatha
ظِWith kasra
ظُWith damma
ظْWith sukun
Characteristics (ṣifāt)
| Voiced | الجَهْر | The breath is held back and the voice carries the letter. |
| Soft (flowing) | الرَّخَاوَة | The sound flows on while the letter is held. |
| Elevated (heavy) | الاسْتِعْلَاء | The back of the tongue rises to the palate, filling the mouth with a heavy sound. |
| Closed (covered) | الإِطْبَاق | The middle of the tongue presses up against the palate like a lid — the heaviest letters. |
| Restrained | الإِصْمَات | Made further in, so it takes more care to say. |