Zāy

Video of the Letter Zāy:

This short video presents the articulation and characteristics of the letter Zāy, demonstrating its correct pronunciation with Qur’anic examples, and highlighting the most common pronunciation errors made by readers.

First: The Articulation Point of the Letter Zāy:

The letter Zāy is pronounced from the tip of the tongue touching the inner surface of the lower incisors. The sound flows above the tongue and passes between the upper and lower teeth. It shares its articulation point with the letters Ṣād and Sīn, as shown in the image.

Second: The Main Characteristics of the Letter Zāy:

Rikhāwah (Flexibility), Jahr (Audibility), Ṣafīr (Whistling), and Istifāl (Lowering).

The image of Zāy articulation shows an open articulation point, allowing the sound to continue to flow without being cut abruptly, which is the meaning of 'Rakhāwah'(flexibility)

Zāy is audible letter, meaning that no extra breath accompanies its sound during pronunciation.

It it also a letter of Ṣafīr, a sharp whistling sound that results from the sound passing between the teeth.

It is also a letter of Istifāl(Lowering), meaning the back of the tongue remains lowered during articulation, giving it a light sound (Muraqqaq).

Third: Pronouncing the Letter Zāy in Different States through Qur’anic Examples:

You can click on the word to hear the correct pronunciation.

First: Zāy in the state of non-vowelled (Sukūn):
أَزْ	أُزْ	إِزْ
﴿أَزۡوَٰجٞ﴾	﴿أُزۡلِفَتۡ﴾	﴿ٱزۡدَادُواْ﴾

Second: Zāy with short vowels (Harakat):
زَ	زُ	زِ
﴿زَكَرِيَّا﴾	﴿زُجَاجَةٍ﴾	﴿زِدۡنَٰهُمۡ﴾

Third: Zāy with long vowels (Madd letters):
زا	زو	زي
﴿وَزَادَكُمۡ﴾	﴿وَزُورٗا﴾	﴿زِينَتَكُمۡ﴾

Fourth: Zāy with shaddah (when it is doubled):
أَزَّ	أزُّ	أزِّ
﴿ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ﴾	﴿ٱلزُّرَّاعَ﴾	﴿ٱلزِّينَةِ﴾

Fourth: Common Mistakes in Pronouncing the Letter Zāy:

1.Pronouncing it close to the letter Sīn, such as in: ﴿رِزۡقِ﴾. The correct way is: ﴿رِزۡقِ﴾. Allah says: ﴿كُلُواْ وَٱشۡرَبُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِ ٱللَّهِ﴾.
ثانيًا: قلقلتها إذا كانت ساكنة، هكذا: ﴿أَزۡوَٰجٗا﴾، والصواب: ﴿أَزۡوَٰجٗا﴾، قال الله تعالى: ﴿وَجَعَلۡنَا لَهُمۡ أَزۡوَٰجٗا وَذُرِّيَّةٗ﴾.

الرعاية (209)، التحديد (105)، نهاية القول المفيد (54)، هداية القاري (1/68)، التجويد المصور (57)، المنير (63).

الرعاية (209)، نهاية القول المفيد (115)، هداية القاري (1/97)، التجويد المصور (97)، المنير (95).

Lesson Content

Lesson questions

1. الحروف العربية

Introductions

Zāy