Arabic Alphabets: The letter و {wạw}

There are some easy tips and techniques through which pronouncing Arabic letters becomes an easy task to do. In this article, will do the same. At the end of this article, you will be able to pronounce the letter و {wạw} easily with the different harakat (Vowel movements):

Fat̊ḥa فَتْحَة َ
Kasrah كسرة ِ
Dammah ضمة ُ
Jazm / Sokoun جزم ْ
Shadda شدة ّ

Here it is important to understand some parts of the mouth through which we will be pronouncing the letter و {wạw}.

ثنايا عليا (tẖanāyā ʿul̊yā): The front four teeth are called ثنايا (tẖanāyā), the two upper teeth are called ثنايا عليا (tẖanāyā ʿul̊yā).
The inner part of the lower lips.

Now, let’s pronounce و {wạw}: Touch the edge of tẖanāyā ʿul̊yā at the inner part of the lower lips and say و (wạw). Just like the English letter “W” in the word “Wall”. Practice this sound again and again.

Let’s practice و {wạw} with vowel movements.

Fat̊ḥa فتحة: It is a small diagonal line on the top of the letter and sounds as ‘AA’. For example:

وَ = WA, Read as; W fatah WA

Kasrah كسرة: It is a small diagonal line below a letter and sounds like ‘EE’. For example:

وِ = WE, Read as; W kasrah WE

Dammah ضمة: It is a small comma like symbol on the top of the letter and sounds like ‘UU’. For example:

وُ = WU, Read as; W dammah WU

Jazm / Sokoun جزم: Jazm is also called sokoun, a letter with Jazm is called Sakin. It is a small round symbol above the letter. It means that this letter is joint with the letter before it. For example:

وْ = Wa sakin, أَوْ = Alif Fatha + w sakin = ạảẘ

Shadda شدة: When a letter having symbol ّ , it is called Mushadad. It is pronounced by saying the letter twice with one movement of the tongue. It is read by joining two letters and also read with harakat.

أَوَّ = ạảwã – أَوِّ = ạảwĩ – أَوُّ = ạảwũ

To learn more about the Arabic Harakat, here you can find the easiest way to practice Tashkeel:

Now, practice the letter و {wạw} by saying these words:

وَاحِد ( wāḥid – One)
وَرْدِي (war̊dī – Pink)
وَرْدَةٌ (war̊da – Rose)
وَرْقَةٌ ( war̊qa – Paper)
أَوَزَّة (ạảwazã – Goose)
فَوَاكِهْ (fawākih̊ – Fruits)
وَسِيْمْ (wasī̊m̊ – Handsome)

Listen to some Arabic Words starting with the letter و {wạw}

Here, you can learn how to write the letter و {wạw}

For more explanation about how Arabic letters are written, please check out this article: