2
Taa and zaa (heavy)
Arabic A1 · Unit 4
GoalRead and write ط (ṭaa) and ظ (ẓaa) and match the four heavy letters with their light partners.
New words
طَ (ṭa) · syllable ṭaظَ (ẓa) · syllable ẓaطَبِيب (ṭabīb) · doctorطَيْر (ṭayr) · birdsطِين (ṭīn) · mud, clayخَطَر (khaṭar) · dangerظَبْي (ẓaby) · gazelleنَظَر (naẓar) · sight, a look
Explanation
Ṭaa (ط) is the heavy partner of taa (ت), and ẓaa (ظ) is the heavy partner of dhal (ذ). For ṭ say a “t” with the back of the tongue pulled up and the mouth round, with no puff of air. For ẓ say the humming “th” of “this” in the same heavy way. Both letters have a loop with a tall stick; ẓaa has one dot above. Now you know all four heavy letters: ص ض ط ظ. Each one has a light partner, and the light letter is the one with the lighter, brighter sound. Both join on both sides.
طalone
طـstart
ـطـmiddle
ـطend
ظalone
ظـstart
ـظـmiddle
ـظend
Worked examples
| Light | Heavy | How the sound changes |
|---|---|---|
| س | ص | s becomes a deep ṣ |
| د | ض | d becomes a deep ḍ |
| ت | ط | t becomes a deep ṭ |
| ذ | ظ | dh becomes a deep ẓ |
A real pair of words: tīn means figs and ṭīn means mud. Only the first letter changes, but the sound is deeper.
Read these and press Listen: a doctor, birds and a gazelle.
Class activity
Four pairs. On paper write the four pairs from the table: س ص، د ض، ت ط، ذ ظ. Say each pair aloud, light first and heavy second, with a smile for the light one and a round mouth for the heavy one.
Practice
1
Write the light partner of each heavy letter: ص ض ط ظ.
ص and س, ض and د, ط and ت, ظ and ذ.
2
Press Listen. Is the first sound a light t or a heavy ṭ?
Heavy ṭ. The word is طَابَ (ṭāba), “it was pleasant”.
3
Which of these two letters is ẓaa?
ط
ظ
The second one. Ẓaa has one dot above; ṭaa has none.
4
Read the word aloud and say what it means: خَطَر.
khaṭar, danger.
5
How does ظ sound different from ذ?
Both are the humming “th” of “this”, but ظ is heavy: the back of the tongue is raised and the mouth is round.