Lesson 5Alphabet & ScriptBeginner10 min
Urdu Alphabet Lesson 5: Toy, Zoy, Ain and Ghain
طوئے، ظوئے، عین، غینThese four letters come from Arabic. ط sounds like ت, and ظ sounds like ز. ع is special: in everyday Urdu it is usually not pronounced as a separate sound, but it changes the vowel next to it.
The letters
طToy /t̪/
طوطاTota (Parrot)
ظZoy /z/
ظروفZuroof (Utensils)
عAin /ɑː/ or /ʔ/
عینکAinak (Glasses)
غGhain /ɣ/
غبارہGhubara (Balloon)
How they sound in Urdu
| Letter | Sound in Urdu |
|---|---|
| ط | t (same as ت) |
| ظ | z (same as ز) |
| ع | usually silent; often heard as a or e, as in عینک (ainak) |
| غ | gh, a gargling sound at the back of the throat, like the French r |
Words to read
عربarabArab, Arabia
عجبajabstrange, wonderful
غارghaarcave
شرطshartcondition; a bet
حاضرhaazirpresent (here)Teachers call the register and children answer حاضر.
ظاہرzaahirclear, obviousThis word also uses ہ, which you will learn in Lesson 8.
Tips
- ع and غ share one shape. The dot on top turns the silent ع into the gh sound.
- Try saying غ like gargling water quietly.
- If a word is new to you, listen to it before guessing how ع is pronounced.
Practice
Choose the right answer. You will see the correct one straight away.