Introduction to the Arabic Letter Zay (Zayn)
The Arabic alphabet consists of 28 letters, and one of them is the letter Zay, also known as Zayn. Zay is the sixth letter of the Arabic alphabet and is pronounced as “z” in English. It is written as ز in Arabic script.
Writing the Letter Zay
To write the letter Zay, start by drawing a vertical line from the top to the bottom of the writing line. Then, add a small curve at the top of the line, resembling a small hook. This hook distinguishes Zay from the similar-looking letter “Seen.”
The shapes of the lettre Zay “ز”:
| TERMINAL | MIDDLE | INITIAL | ISOLATED |
|---|---|---|---|
| ـز | ـز | ز | ز |
The initial Zay “ز” :
The letter “Zay” at the beginning of the word is isolated, as it does not connect from both sides.
| Arabic | English | Pronunciation |
| زيت | Oil | Zayt |
| زبيب | Raisins | Zabeeb |
| زمن | Time | Zaman |
The middle Zay“ز” :
The letter Zay is in the middle of the word, connected from the right side only.
| Arabic | English | Pronunciation |
| حزام | Belt | Hizaam |
| غزال | Deer | Ghazaal |
| مخزن | Stored | Makhzan |
The terminal Zay “ز” :
The letter Zay is at the end of the word, connected from the right side only.
| Arabic | English | Pronunciation |
| كنز | Treasure | Kanz |
| عجز | Inability | Eajz |
| فائز | Winner | Fai’z |
•Examples :
Expanded Examples for the Letter Zay
Zay with fatha (زَ”فتحة”):
- Arabic: زَرافة, زَوجة, زَهرة, زَمان, زَبد, زَحف, زَقزقة
- English: Giraffe, Wife, Flower, Time, Butter, Crawl, Chirping
- Pronunciation: Zarafa, Zawja, Zahra, Zaman, Zabd, Zaḥf, Zaqzaqa
Zay with damma (زُ”ضمة”):
- Arabic: زُبدة, زُمرد, زُجاج, زُهرة, زُلقة, زُحام, زُكام
- English: Butter, Emerald, Glass, Flower, Slide, Crowd, Cold
- Pronunciation: Zubda, Zumorod, Zujaj, Zuhra, Zulqa, Zuḥam, Zuƙām
Zay with kasra (زِ”كسرة “):
- Arabic: زِراعة, زِر, زِحام, زِفت, زِقاق, زِلال, زِكام
- English: Farming, Button, Crowd, Tar, Alley, Clear water, Cold
- Pronunciation: Ziraea, Zir, Zihaam, Zift, Ziqāq, Zilāl, Zikām
Zay with sukoon (زْ”سكون”):
- Arabic: مزْمار, مزْبلة, مزْلاج, مزْح, مزْلق, مزْعج, مزْعج
- English: Flute, Dustbin, Latch, Joke, Slippery, Annoying, Annoying
- Pronunciation: Mizmaar, Mizbala, Mizlaaj, Mazḥ, Mazlaq, Mazʿij, Mazʿij
Expanded Table for Zay with Sukoon
| Arabic | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| مزْمار | Flute | Mizmaar |
| مزْبلة | Dustbin | Mizbala |
| مزْلاج | Latch | Mizlaaj |
| مزْح | Joke | Mazḥ |
| مزْلق | Slippery | Mazlaq |
| مزْعج | Annoying | Mazʿij |
| مزْهري | Flowery | Mazhriy |
| مزْن | Weight | Mazn |
| مزْرعة | Farm | Mazraʿa |
| مزْحلة | Slide | Mazḥala |
Note: These are just a few examples. The letter “Zay” with sukoon can be found in many other words and phrases in Arabic.
Examples of Words with the Letter Zay
Here are a few examples of words that contain the letter Zay:
- زهرة (zahra) – flower
- زمان (zaman) – time
- زيتون (zaytun) – olive
- زجاجة (zajaja) – bottle
- زوج (zawj) – husband
These examples demonstrate the usage of the letter Zay in different contexts. By practicing these words, you can improve your understanding and pronunciation of the letter Zay.
Conclusion
The letter Zay is an important part of the Arabic alphabet. By learning how to write and pronounce it, as well as using it in various words, you can enhance your Arabic language skills. Practice writing the letter Zay and incorporating it into your vocabulary to become more proficient in Arabic.
