Makharij Explained: Where Each Arabic Letter Is Pronounced

Makharij (singular makhraj) are the points of articulation: the places in the throat, mouth and lips where each Arabic letter is produced. Scholars group them into five main areas: the empty space of the mouth, the throat, the tongue, the lips and the nasal passage. Knowing them is the foundation of correct recitation.

Why makharij matter

Several Arabic letters sound similar to English ears but come from different places and change the word. If you do not learn where a letter lives, you tend to replace it with the nearest English sound, so س, ص and ث may all become one sound. Learning makharij fixes this at the root. It sits at the heart of the Tajweed course.

It helps to separate two ideas that are often mixed up. Makharij tell you where a letter is produced. Sifaat, the qualities of letters, tell you how it is produced, for example with a heavy or light sound, with strong or soft contact, or with a breathy release. Two letters can share a makhraj and still differ in their qualities, which is why the same place in the mouth can give more than one letter. Makharij come first because you cannot apply the qualities until you know where to start.

Area 1: the throat (al-halq)

Six letters come from the throat, in three layers.

• Deepest part (lower throat): ء (hamza) and ه (ha).
• Middle of the throat: ع (ayn) and ح (ha, the harder, whispered one).
• Upper throat, nearest the mouth: غ (ghayn) and خ (kha).

English has no ع or ح, and they take practice. Try each in isolation, slowly, and ask a teacher to listen.

A simple exercise is to practise in front of a mirror. Say a letter slowly with a short vowel and watch where your lips, tongue and jaw move. Then place a finger lightly on your throat and feel whether the sound vibrates. Notice where your tongue touches your teeth or palate. Repeat each letter several times without rushing, then compare it with a recording of a skilled reciter. Small differences you did not notice at first usually become clear after a few days of this.

Area 2: the tongue (al-lisan)

The tongue is the busiest area, producing most of the letters. A simple way to remember it is by tongue location.

• Back of the tongue: ق and ك, with ق coming from slightly further back.
• Middle of the tongue: ج, ش and ي.
• The side of the tongue: ض, from the edge against the upper molars, which is one of the hardest for non-Arabic speakers.
• The tip of the tongue: ل, ن, ر, and several others, each from a slightly different spot.
• Tip of the tongue with the front teeth: ط, د and ت touch the base of the upper front teeth; ظ, ذ and ث touch the edges of the upper front teeth; ص, س and ز sit near the lower front teeth.

The exact detail of each tongue letter is best learned by ear, because small shifts in position change the sound.

Area 3: the lips (ash-shafatayn)

• ب and م: both lips together.
• و: lips rounded, without closing fully.
• ف: the upper front teeth touch the inside of the lower lip.

Area 4: the empty space (al-jawf)

The three long sounds, alif, waw and ya, when they lengthen the vowel before them, come from the empty space of the mouth and throat rather than a specific point. This is why their length matters so much. You can read more about them in the Noorani Qaida lesson guide.

Area 5: the nasal passage (al-khayshum)

Ghunnah, the nasal sound that accompanies noon and meem in certain situations, is produced here. Recognising this resonance is a key part of Tajweed rules for noon and meem.

Some pairs are especially easy to confuse, and are worth practising on their own:

• ث, س and ص: three different tongue positions that English speakers often merge into one.
• ذ, ز and ظ: again, similar to the ear and distinct in the mouth.
• ه and ح: both from the throat, but from different depths.
• ق and ك: the first is deeper in the mouth.
• ء and ع: a sharp stop versus a constricted throat sound.

Practical ways to learn them

• Say each letter with a short vowel, such as اَ, and listen for where you feel the sound.
• Compare confusing pairs side by side, for example س and ص, or ت and ط.
• Record yourself and play it back.
• Study with a live teacher who can hear what you cannot. Our teacher, Saba Afzal, holds an Ijazah in Tajweed and Qira'at; see her profile.

Counting methods differ slightly between books, so you may see a total of 17 or a different number of specific points. The five areas above are the common starting map. For the bigger picture, read what an online Tajweed course teaches.

You can book a free trial class to have your pronunciation heard.

Frequently asked questions

What are makharij in Tajweed?

Makharij are the points of articulation, the places in the throat, tongue, lips, mouth space and nose from which Arabic letters are produced.

How many makharij are there?

There are five main areas, and many books list 17 specific points within them. Counting methods vary a little between scholars.

Can I learn makharij without a teacher?

You can start with charts and audio, but a teacher hearing you is much more reliable, because small errors are hard to detect yourself.