قاف · U+0642
Qaf — the q sound
Pronunciation: k far back in the throat · IPA [q]. Connects in both directions.
| alone | at the start | in the middle | at the end |
|---|---|---|---|
| ق | قـ | ـقـ | ـق |
In a word
قَلب
- قـQaf at the startk far back in the throat · IPA [q]
- ـلـLam in the middlel as in love · IPA [l]
- ـبBa at the endb as in boat · IPA [b]
The letter Qaf in detail
- Place in the alphabet: 21 of 28.
- Abjad numeral value: 100. In the classical Arabic letter-number system (abjad) every letter also stands for a number – for example in dates on old inscriptions.
- Dots: 2 dots above the letter.
- Joining: It joins to the following letter (to the left), so it has four forms: isolated, initial, medial and final.
- In names: Qaf appears in 5 of our 218 verified name spellings.
For a tattoo or engraving: The 2 dots above the letter must sit exactly – a missing or extra dot turns Qaf into a different letter. Always read the finished design from right to left and do not let the stencil be mirrored.
Easy to confuse
Qaf 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:
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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