كاف · U+0643
Kaf — the k sound
Pronunciation: k as in kite · IPA [k]. Connects in both directions.
| alone | at the start | in the middle | at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| ك | كـ | ـكـ | ـك |
In a word
كَلب
- كـKaf at the startk as in kite · IPA [k]
- ـلـLam in the middlel as in love · IPA [l]
- ـبBa at the endb as in boat · IPA [b]
The letter Kaf in detail
- Place in the alphabet: 22 of 28.
- Abjad numeral value: 20. In the classical Arabic letter-number system (abjad) every letter also stands for a number – for example in dates on old inscriptions.
- Dots: none.
- Joining: It joins to the following letter (to the left), so it has four forms: isolated, initial, medial and final.
- In names: Kaf appears in 27 of our 218 verified name spellings.
For a tattoo or engraving: The join to the neighbouring letter must stay continuous, otherwise the word looks broken. Always read the finished design from right to left and do not let the stencil be mirrored.
Easy to confuse
Kaf has no dots to confuse, but its plain stroke shape resembles these letters — which makes the mix-up trickier, since there is no missing dot to catch the eye:
This letter in real names
A small selection from our checked name dictionary that contains this 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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