Where each Arabic letter is pronounced from, explained with a diagram — the foundation of correct Tajweed.
Makharij (مخارج), plural of Makhraj, means "point of exit" — the exact place in the mouth or throat where a letter's sound originates. Scholars of Tajweed group the 29 Arabic letters into 5 main areas, with 17 precise points between them.
Arabic is precise: two letters pronounced from nearly the same spot in the mouth can carry completely different meanings. Producing a letter from the wrong Makhraj is one of the most common — and most overlooked — mistakes in Quran recitation, especially for these commonly confused pairs:
| Often Confused | Why They Differ |
|---|---|
| ت / ط | Taa is light (Raqiq); Taa Mufakhkham (ط) is heavy, pronounced with the back of the tongue raised. |
| س / ص | Seen is light and hissing; Saad is heavy, produced further back with a fuller mouth shape. |
| ك / ق | Kaaf comes from the front part of the tongue's back; Qaaf comes from further back, deeper and heavier. |
| ح / ه | Haa (ح) is a sharper, more constricted throat sound; Haa (ه) is softer, from deep in the throat. |
| ع / ء | 'Ain is a distinct guttural sound with no English equivalent; Hamzah is a simple glottal stop. |
Base anatomical illustration: public domain (CC0), University of Washington Linguistics / drammock. Zone colours, numbering and labels added by Siraate Quran.
Not a fixed spot at all — it is the empty space inside the mouth and throat. These 3 letters have no contact point anywhere; the sound simply resonates through open air.
Where the sound comes from: The whole open cavity, from the throat to the lips — nothing touches anything.
How to pronounce it: Say "aaa" and hold it. Nothing in your mouth moves or touches — the sound is just open airflow, which is why these are also called the letters of Madd (elongation).
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| قَالَ | "He said" — the natural "aa" is the Alif of Jawf. |
The furthest-back point in the throat, nearest your chest — Hamzah and Haa are produced here.
Where the sound comes from: The very base of the throat, right where it meets the chest.
How to pronounce it: Hamzah is a quick, simple catch of the breath (like the pause in "uh-oh"); Haa is a soft, breathy exhale — put a hand on your throat and feel the difference.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| أَحَد | "One" — starts with a Hamzah from the deepest point of the throat. |
The middle of the throat — home to two sounds that don't exist in English at all.
Where the sound comes from: The centre of the throat, between the deepest point and the point nearest the mouth.
How to pronounce it: 'Ain is a tight, guttural squeeze of the throat; Haa (ح) is a sharp, constricted hiss — both need real throat engagement, not just breath.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| رَحِيم | "Merciful" — contains the constricted Haa (ح) of this point. |
The point closest to the mouth, right before the throat ends — a rougher, more textured sound than the other two Halq points.
Where the sound comes from: The front of the throat, just behind where the tongue's back can reach.
How to pronounce it: Both have a rough, scraping quality — like gently gargling. Ghain is voiced (your throat vibrates); Khaa is unvoiced (just air and friction).
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| غَفُور | "Forgiving" — opens with the rough Ghain sound. |
How to feel it: put a hand on your throat and say "ha" (ه) then "kha" (خ) — you'll feel the point of contact move from deep in the throat toward the mouth.
The very back of the tongue rises to touch the soft palate (the fleshy back part of the roof of the mouth).
Where the sound comes from: Furthest back of the tongue, against the soft palate.
How to pronounce it: A deep, heavy "k" sound made from the back of the throat/mouth junction — heavier than an English K.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| قُرْآن | "Quran" — opens with this deep back-of-tongue sound. |
The back of the tongue rises again, but slightly further forward than Qaaf, touching the hard palate instead of the soft one.
Where the sound comes from: Back of the tongue, just in front of the Qaaf point.
How to pronounce it: Closer to the English "k" sound, but say Qaaf then Kaaf back-to-back and you should feel the contact point move slightly forward.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| كَبِير | "Great" — a light, forward "k" compared to Qaaf. |
The middle of the tongue rises to meet the middle of the roof of the mouth (the hard palate) — one contact point producing three different letters.
Where the sound comes from: Middle of the tongue against the middle of the hard palate.
How to pronounce it: Jeem is a soft "j"; Sheen is a hissing "sh"; Yaa (as a consonant, not a vowel) is a light "y" glide — all three touch the same spot.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| جَمِيل | "Beautiful" — the opening Jeem comes from this middle-tongue point. |
One or both edges of the tongue stretch sideways to touch the upper molars — considered the hardest Arabic letter for non-native speakers, unique to this language.
Where the sound comes from: The side edge(s) of the tongue against the back upper teeth (molars).
How to pronounce it: A heavy, full-mouthed "d" — let the sides of your tongue widen and press against your back teeth, unlike a normal "d" which only uses the tip.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| رَمَضَان | "Ramadan" — the month name everyone recognises, contains this unique letter. |
The edge of the tongue (near the tip) touches the gum ridge just behind the upper front teeth.
Where the sound comes from: Tip/edge of the tongue against the gum ridge.
How to pronounce it: Very close to the English "l" — light and clear, tongue tip touching just behind the teeth, not further back.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| اللَّه | "Allah" — the name itself is built from this letter, doubled. |
The tip of the tongue touches the gum ridge — the same general area as Laam, just slightly further back and paired with a nasal sound.
Where the sound comes from: Tip of the tongue against the gum ridge, with air also passing through the nose.
How to pronounce it: Like the English "n" — but in Tajweed this letter carries its own set of rules (Noon Sakinah) depending on what follows it.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| نُور | "Light" — a clear, simple Noon at the start. |
The tip of the tongue touches the gum ridge too, but curls back very slightly further than Noon, often with a light flap or trill.
Where the sound comes from: Tip of the tongue, just behind the Noon point.
How to pronounce it: A light, rolled/flapped "r" — the tongue tip briefly taps the gum ridge rather than holding still against it.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| رَبّ | "Lord" — one of the most frequently recited words in the Quran. |
The very tip of the tongue touches the base of the upper front teeth — one contact spot, three related letters (one heavy, two light).
Where the sound comes from: Tip of the tongue against the base of the upper front teeth.
How to pronounce it: Taa (ط) is heavy, said with the back of the tongue raised; Daal and Taa (ت) are light, plain "d" and "t" sounds.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| دِين | "Religion/way of life" — a plain, light Daal to start. |
The tip of the tongue approaches the gap between the upper and lower front teeth, producing a hissing, whistling quality.
Where the sound comes from: Tip of the tongue near the gap between the upper and lower incisors.
How to pronounce it: Saad is heavy and hissing; Seen is its light counterpart; Zaa (ز) is the same light hiss but voiced (your throat vibrates).
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| صَبْر | "Patience" — the heavy, hissing Saad opens this word. |
The tip of the tongue touches the edge of the upper front teeth (further forward than the Taa/Daal point) — the same spot as the English "th" sounds.
Where the sound comes from: Tip of the tongue lightly against the edge of the upper front teeth.
How to pronounce it: Thaa is the unvoiced "th" as in "think"; Dhaal is the voiced "th" as in "this"; Zaa (ظ) is the heavy version of Dhaal.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ذِكْر | "Remembrance" — starts with the voiced "th" (Dhaal) sound. |
How to feel it: the tongue does more work than any other articulator — say Qaaf, then Kaaf, then Taa, and notice the contact point moving from the very back of your tongue toward the tip with each one.
The inner side of the lower lip touches the tips of the upper front teeth — the only Arabic letter produced this way.
Where the sound comes from: Lower lip against the edge of the upper front teeth.
How to pronounce it: Exactly like the English "f" — bite gently on your lower lip and push air through.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| فَجْر | "Dawn" — also the name of a Surah, starts with this lip-and-teeth sound. |
Both lips press together — the same basic shape produces three different letters depending on airflow and whether the nose is involved.
Where the sound comes from: Both lips, fully closed together.
How to pronounce it: Baa is a quick lip-pop like English "b"; Meem is the same closure but held with a nasal hum; Waw (as a consonant) rounds the lips forward like English "w".
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| بِسْمِ اللَّه | "In the name of Allah" — the opening formula, containing both Baa and Meem. |
How to feel it: Faa only needs your bottom lip touching your top teeth; Baa/Meem/Waw need both lips fully closed — an easy pair to double-check in a mirror.
Not a letter Makhraj on its own — it is where Ghunnah, the nasal hum, resonates whenever Noon or Meem carry a Shaddah, and in rules like Ikhfa, Idgham (with Ghunnah) and Iqlab.
Where the sound comes from: The nasal cavity, behind and above the mouth — the same passage air moves through when you hum.
How to pronounce it: Hum "mmm" and gently pinch your nose — the sound changes immediately, because Ghunnah relies entirely on the nasal passage staying open, held for about 2 counts.
| Example Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| إِنَّ | "Indeed" — the doubled Noon (Shaddah) carries a clear, held Ghunnah. |
Diagram and content prepared in-house by Siraate Quran for student reference.