moon letter

Questions

What does moon letter mean?

One of fourteen Arabic letters that do not affect the pronunciation of the "L" of a preceding definite article (ال- (al--)). The "L" in the Arabic definite article is pronounced "L" when followed by a moon letter: e.g., القُرْآن (al-qurʔān). The fourteen moon letters are: ء (ʔ), ب (b), ج (j), ح (ḥ), خ (ḵ), ع (ʕ), غ (ḡ), ف (f), ق (q), ك (k), م (m), ه (h), و (w), ي (y)

Where does moon letter come from?

Calque of Arabic حَرْف قَمَرِيّ (ḥarf qamariyy).

How to pronounce moon letter

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “moon letter”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “moon letter”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “moon letter” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.