Learn the Arabic Alphabet: The letter ر (Rāʼ)
Today’s letter in the Arabic Alphabet Series is the letter ر, the tenth letter in the alphabet.
We will start by learning how to pronounce the letter ر and how to write the letter ر. Then we will explore a group of the most common words with the letter ر, in the initial, middle, and final positions.
For every new word with the letter ر, we will have an example of the word and its English translation.
Are you ready to add a new letter to your Arabic, along with so many new words and sentences??
How to Pronounce the Letter ر (Rāʼ)
The Arabic letter ر (rāʼ) has a sound similar to the rolled “r” in Spanish or Italian. To pronounce it correctly, lift the tip of your tongue to lightly touch the small ridge just behind your upper front teeth. As you push air out while voicing, let the tongue flutter or tap rapidly against this ridge. This slight vibration creates the classic trilled or rolled sound that gives ر its musical quality.
Unlike English’s flat “r,” Arabic’s ر demands an energetic, crisp sound. In some words, especially when reciting the Qur’an, ر can sound heavier or thicker, depending on the vowels around it—a technique in Tajweed known as Tafkhīm (emphatic pronunciation) when preceded by an “a” sound (fatḥah), and lighter (Tarqīq) when preceded by an “i” sound (kasrah).
How to Write the Letter ر (Rāʼ)
The letter ر is a simple, curved stroke moving downward to the left. Start at the baseline and move your pen in a small, downward curve, sweeping slightly to the left. Think of it like drawing a tiny hook that softens as it flows.
The letter ر does not connect to the following letter, which makes it stand alone in the middle or at the end of a word. Whether it appears isolated or joined to the previous letter, the shape of ر remains almost identical—only the connection point changes.
Now let’s study common words with the letter ر in the initial, middle, and final positions in the word.
Letter ‘ر’ (Rāʼ) in Initial Position
Sand
Raml
رَمل
The children played in the sand.
Laʻib al-aṭfālu fī al-ramli
لعِبَ الأطفالُ في الرَّملِ
Drawing
Rasm
رسم
The students love the drawing class.
Yuḥibbu al-ṭullāb Ḥiṣṣata al-Rasm
يحِبُّ الطُّلابُ حِصّةَ الرَّسمِ
Countryside
Rīf
ريف
My grandmother lives in the countryside.
Tʻyshu jaddatī fī rīf al-Madīnah.
تَعيشُ جَدَّتي في ريف المَدينة.
Flag
Rāyah
راية
The flag is red.
Lawn al-Rāyati Aḥmar
لونُ الرّايةِ أحمر
Sport
Riyāḍah
رياضة
Playing sports is good for health.
al-Riyāḍatu Mufīdatun lil-Ṣiḥḥah
الرّياضةُ مُفيدةٌ لِلصِّحةِ
Letter 'ر' (Rāʼ) in the Middle Position
Puppy
Jarw
جرو
I bought a small puppy.
Ishtaraytu jarwan ṣaghyran
اِشتَريتُ جَروًا صَغيرًا
Road
Ṭarīq
طريق
The road to the train station is long.
al-Ṭarīq ilá Maḥaṭṭati al-Qiṭṭāri Ṭawīl
الطَّريقُ إلى محطّةِ القِطارِ طويلٌ
Morocco
Maghrib
مغرب
Tourists love visiting Morocco.
Yuḥibbu alsuyāḥu ziyārata al-Maghrib
يُحِبُّ السُّيّاحُ زيارةَ المَغرِب
Cold
Bārid
بارد
Last night was very cold.
Kānat al-laylatu al-māḍīyatu bāridatan jiddan
كانتِ الليلةُ الماضيةُ بارِدةً جِدًّا
Rat
Jurdh
جُرذ
The rat ate the cheese.
Akala alijurdhu al-jubn
أكَلَ الجُرذُ الجُبنَ
Letter 'ر' (Rāʼ) in the Final Position
Tiger
Nimr
نمر
There is a big tiger in the zoo.
Yūjadu Nimrun Kabīrun fī Ḥadīqat al-ḥayawān
يوجَدُ نَمرٌ كبيرٌ في حديقةِ الحيوانِ
Palace
Qaṣr
قصر
The king lives in a big palace.
Yaʻīshu al-Maliku fī Qaṣrin Kabīr
يعيشُ المَلِكُ في قَصرٍ كَبيرٍ
Egypt
Miṣr
مِصر
I visited the pyramids in Egypt.
Zurtu al-Ahrāmāti fī Miṣr
زُرتُ الأهراماتِ في مِصرَ
Moon
Qamar
قمر
The moon lights up the sky at night.
Alqamaru yuḍyʼu alsmāʼa fī al-layl
القمرُ يُضيءُ السَّماءَ في اللّيلِ
Sea
Baḥr
بحر
I love swimming in the sea in the summer.
Uḥibbu alsibāḥta fī albaḥri fī Faṣl al-ṣayf
أُحِبُّ السِّباحةَ في البَحرِ في فَصلِ الصَّيفِ
Quick Quiz
Which of the following words starts with the Arabic letter 'ر' (Rā')?
A. كتاب
B. سمك
C. ريح
D. جبل
What is the English translation of 'مِرآة'?
A. Window
B. Mirror
C. Door
D. Lamp
Which of these words does NOT contain the Arabic letter 'ر' (Rā') in the middle?
A. سيّارة
B. مدرسة
C. جريدة
D. وِسادة
Which of these words does NOT have the Arabic letter 'ر' (Rā') at the end?
A. بحر
B. قمَر
C. فجر
D. طريق
- C. ريح
- B. Mirror
- D. وِسادة
- D. طَريق
Final word
Now that we have learned the letter ر and seen it in examples, don’t forget that mastering new words and phrases in Arabic requires consistent practice.
We invite you to download a free 30-day study plan from AlifBee, offering guided practice with plenty of helpful exercises. It can be your companion as you take your first steps in learning Arabic.
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