ضاد · U+0636
Dad — the ḍ sound
Pronunciation: dark, emphatic d · IPA [dˤ]. Connects in both directions.
| alone | at the start | in the middle | at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| ض | ضـ | ـضـ | ـض |
In a word
ضَيف
- ضـDad at the startdark, emphatic d · IPA [dˤ]
- ـيـYa in the middley as in yes, or long i · IPA [j / iː]
- ـفFa at the endf as in fish · IPA [f]
The letter Dad in detail
- Place in the alphabet: 15 of 28.
- Abjad numeral value: 800. In the classical Arabic letter-number system (abjad) every letter also stands for a number – for example in dates on old inscriptions.
- Dots: 1 dot above the letter.
- Joining: It joins to the following letter (to the left), so it has four forms: isolated, initial, medial and final.
For a tattoo or engraving: The dot above the letter must sit exactly – a missing or extra dot turns Dad into a different letter. Always read the finished design from right to left and do not let the stencil be mirrored.
Easy to confuse
Dad shares its body with the letters below and differs only by the number and position of the dots. In a tattoo, a single dot inked too small decides whether it is actually a different letter:
To learn more
Material that actually makes the shapes stick.
Arabic alphabet flashcards
All 28 letters with their positional forms on cards. Good for repetition, no substitute for a textbook.
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Arabic for beginners, with audio
Pronunciation matters a lot in Arabic — without an audio track you won't learn the guttural sounds.
View on Amazon Alphabet poster for the wall
Passive learning just by looking at it. Look for an edition that shows all four positional forms.
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