Welcome back, our dear Arabic learners!
Today, we’ll add another letter to our Arabic alphabet journey!
Letter غ (Ghayn), a letter that has a sound that makes Arabic a special language.
It doesn’t exist in English. Its sound comes from deep in the throat and has a gentle vibration, almost like a soft gargle. Many learners find it unusual at first, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes one of the most memorable letters to pronounce.
In this lesson, we’ll discover how to say it correctly, how to write it in its different positions, and how it appears in everyday words. After you finish reading, make sure to take the quick quiz to check your information.
Before we start with the Arabic words with the letter غ, let’s take a look at how we pronounce and write this letter.
How to Pronounce the Letter غ /Ghayn/
The sound of the letter غ in Arabic comes from the upper throat. You can put your hand on your throat when you pronounce it and feel the vibration.
It’s a deep, vibrating sound that doesn’t exist in English, as we mentioned earlier. It’s very similar to the French “r” in words like “Paris.”
Try to make a gentle gargling sound. The vibration you hear and feel is very close to the sound of غ. Practice slowly and clearly until it feels natural.
Did you know?
The letter غ /Ghayn/ is the only Arabic sound that doesn’t exist in any European language! Its deep, throaty tone makes Arabic sound instantly recognizable — even if you don’t understand the words.
How to Write the Letter غ /Ghayn/
Check the different forms of the letter غ in the following table:
Isolated
Initial
Medial
Final
غ
غـ
ـغـ
ـغ
Like most Arabic letters, the Arabic letter غ changes its shape when it comes at the start, in the middle, or at the end of a word.
Letter غ has the same shape as letter ع in its different forms, but with a slight change, which is a small dot above the letter. Let’s explain it in detail:
- The isolated form غ: Draw the head like a lowercase “c” placed on the writing line. From the bottom of this “c” shape, draw a larger, curved tail that goes beneath the line, similar to a large “C”. Add the dot on top of it. This form stands alone, so there are no connections.
- The initial form غـ appears at the beginning of a word. Draw the head like a lowercase “c” with a tail on the left to connect to the next letter. Then, add the dot above.
- The medial form ـغـ appears in the middle of a word; it connects on both sides, so it has a tail on the left and a tail on the right, a knot in the middle filled in on the inside, and a dot above the letter.
- The final form ـغ appears at the end of a word. Draw a loop filled in the inside and a curve like the letter “c” in English beneath it. It only connects to the letter before it, so it has a tail on the right before the loop. Don’t forget the dot on top, which is always part of the letter.
Arabic Words with the Letter غ
Letter غ /Ghayn/ in initial position
crow
ghurāb
غُرَاب
I saw a crow in the garden.
Raʾaytu ghurāban fī al-ḥadīqah.
رَأَيْتُ غُرَابًا فِي الحَدِيقَة
branch
ghuṣn
غُصْن
The bird perched on the branch.
Ḥaṭṭa alṭṭāʼiru ʻalá alghuṣn
حَطّ الطَّائِرُ عَلَى الغُصْن
cloud
ghaymah
غَيْمَة
The cloud covered the sun.
Ghaṭṭati al-ghaymatu al-shshams
غَطَّتِ الغَيْمَةُ الشَّمْس
tomorrow
ghadan
غَدًا
I will go to school tomorrow.
saʾadhhabu ilā al-madrasati ghadan
سَأَذْهَبُ إِلَى الْمَدْرَسَةِ غَدًا
rich/wealthy
ghanī
غَنِيّ
This is a rich man
Hādhā rajulun ghanīyun
هذا رَجُلٌ غَنِيٌّ
Letter غ /Ghayn/ in the middle position
Small/little
ṣaghīr
صَغِير
Our house is small.
Baytunā ṣaghīrun.
بَيْتُنا صَغِيرٌ
parrot
babaghāʾ
بَبَغَاء
The parrot imitates sounds.
yuqallidu Al-babaghāʾu al-aṣwāt.
يُقَلِّدُ البَبَغَاءُ الأَصْوَات
screw
burgī
بُرْغِي
I used a screw to fix the chair.
Istakhdamtu burgiyyan li-tathbīti al-kursī.
اِسْتَخْدَمْتُ بُرْغِيًّا لِتَثْبِيتِ الكُرْسِي.
arrogant
maghrūr
مَغْرُور
This man is arrogant.
Hādhā alrrajulu maghrūrun
هذا الرَّجُلُ مَغْرُورٌ
singer
mughannī
مُغَنّي
He is a famous singer.
Huwa mughanin mashhwrun.
هُوَ مُغَنٍ مَشْهورٌ
Letter غ /Ghayn/ in the final position:
Brain
dimāgh
دمَاغ
Reading strengthens the brain.
Al-qirāʾatu tuqawwī al-dimāgh.
القِرَاءَةُ تُقَوِّي الدِّمَاغ
empty
fārigh
فَارِغ
The cup is empty.
Alkwbu fārighun
الكوبُ فارِغٌ
glue
ṣamgh
صَمْغ
I bought glue for school.
Ishtaraytu ṣamghan lil-madrasah.
اِشْتَرَيْتُ صَمْغًا لِلْمَدْرَسَة
Tobacco
tabgh
تَبغ
Tobacco contains harmful substances.
yaḥtawī at-ttabghu ʿalā mawāddin sāmmāh.
يَحتوي التَّبغُ عَلى مَوَادٍّ سَامَّة
Report/notice
Balāgh
بَلاغ
The man submitted a report to the police.
Qaddama ar-rajulu balāghan lil-būlīs.
قَدَّمَ الرَّجُلُ بَلاغًا لِلبُوليس
Quick Quiz
Now let’s test your knowledge of the letter غ and its different forms in the word. Choose the right option then check the answer key.
Which of the following words starts with the Arabic letter ‘غ’ (Ghayn)?
A. عُصفُور
B. غُرَاب
C. تَبْغ
D. مُغني
What is the English translation of ‘غَيْمَة’?
A. Sun
B. Cloud
C. Rain
D. Tree
Which of these words contains the Arabic letter ‘غ’ (Ghayn) in the middle?
A. صَغِير
B. قَلَم
C. كِتَاب
D. كُرسِي
Which of these words does NOT have the Arabic letter ‘غ’ (Ghayn) at the end?
A. فَارِغ
B. دِمَاغ
C. برغِي
D. مَبلَغ
- B. غُرَاب
- B. Cloud
- A. صَغِير
- C. برغِي
Final word
We’ve now reached the end of our blog on the letter غ in Arabic. You’ve learned how it looks, how to pronounce it, and how it changes in different word positions. The best way to truly remember it is by practicing. Use the new words in your daily interactions, write them down, and even try creating your own sentences with the help of the examples we shared.
We encourage you to keep learning by moving on to the next letters in our Arabic Alphabet Series. Each letter is another piece of the puzzle that will bring you closer to seeing the full picture of the beautiful Arabic language and help you take the next step toward reading, writing, and speaking Arabic with confidence.
For extra practice, check out our guide: Arabic Basics for Beginners: 10 Simple Steps to Start Learning.
We also invite you to try the AlifBee app. It offers helpful lessons and quizzes, and makes learning Arabic well-planned and fun.
Begin your 14-day free journey on AlifBee and experience Arabic learning made simple and meaningful.
