If you really want to master Arabic pronunciation and understand its secrets, you’ve got to know sun and moon letters Arabic — they’re a key part of speaking correctly. Many learners get confused about them, even though they’re actually simple once you understand the rule.
Sun and Moon Letters Arabic
If you really want to speak Arabic fluently and sound natural, you need to understand the Sun and Moon letters Arabic rule. It’s a simple but essential concept that helps you pronounce words correctly.
This rule explains when to pronounce the “L” in “ال” (the definite article) and when it disappears in speech. Let’s go through it step by step so it becomes super easy to remember.
Start one of our Quran courses online today and see how learning the Sun and Moon letters Arabic transforms your reading and recitation skills forever.
What Are Arabic Sun and Moon Letters?
In Arabic, the alphabet is divided into two special groups that affect pronunciation — the Sun letters and Moon letters.
Understanding them helps you read and speak Arabic the right way, especially when using the definite article “ال” (al-).
Understanding the Sun and Moon letters Arabic is the first step toward perfecting your pronunciation in our Quran Recitation Course.
What Are Sun Letters?
The Sun letters are the ones that make the “L” sound in “ال” disappear when it comes before them.
Instead of pronouncing the “L”, the sound of the next letter doubles — meaning it takes a shaddah ( ّ ).
This blending makes pronunciation smoother and faster in speech.
Here are the 14 Sun letters:
ت (T), ث (Th), د (D), ذ (Dh), ر (R), ز (Z), س (S), ش (Sh), ص (Ṣ), ض (Ḍ), ط (Ṭ), ظ (Ẓ), ل (L), ن (N).
If you’re taking our Tajweed Course, mastering the Sun and Moon letters helps you recite the Qur’an smoothly and beautifully.
Rule and Examples – Assimilating “ال” into Sun Letters
The rule is simple: If the word starts with a Sun Letter, don’t pronounce the “L” in “ال,” and double the following letter instead.
For example: Instead of saying “Al-shams,” you say “Ash-shams.”
Here, the “L” disappears, and the sh sound is doubled.
Examples:
- الشمس: Ash-shams (the sun)
- الطريق: At-tariq (the road)
- الزيت: Az-zayt (the oil)
- النور: An-nur (the light)
- السماء: As-sama’ (the sky)
What Are Moon Letters?
The Moon letters are the opposite — the “L” in “ال” stays clear and is always pronounced.
That’s why they’re called “Moon letters,” because the word القمر itself shows the rule clearly — the “L” is heard in al-qamar.
There are the 14 Moon letters, they are:
ا (A), ب (B), ج (J), ح (Ḥ), خ (Kh), ع (A), غ (Gh), ف (F), ق (Q), ك (K), م (M), هـ (H), و (W), ي (Y).
In our Quran Memorization Course, we teach you how correct pronunciation of Sun and Moon letters strengthens your memorization accuracy.
Rule and Examples – Pronouncing the “L” Clearly
The rule: When “ال” is followed by a Moon Letter, always pronounce the “L” clearly — no merging, no doubling.
Examples:
- القمر: Al-qamar (the moon)
- الولد: Al-walad (the boy)
- البيت: Al-bayt (the house)
- الكتاب: Al-kitab (the book)
- المطر: Al-maṭar (the rain)
Notice the difference? In these words, the L is always clear and soft — no doubling at all.
Comparison Between Sun and Moon Letters
To really understand Sun and Moon letters Arabic, it helps to see the difference between them side by side.
Both types belong to the Arabic alphabet, but each group changes how the definite article “ال” (al-) is pronounced.
The table below explains their main differences — how the “L” sound behaves, what mark appears on the letter after it, and examples that show the rule in real words.
| Feature | Sun Letters (حروف شمسية) | Moon Letters (حروف قمرية) |
| Effect on “ال” | The “L” in “ال” is silent and blends with the next letter. | The “L” in “ال” is pronounced clearly. |
| Mark on Next Letter | The next letter takes a shaddah ( ّ ) to show doubling. | The next letter stays plain — no shaddah. |
| How It Sounds | ash-shams (الشمس) — the “L” is dropped, and the “sh” sound is doubled. | al-qamar (القمر) — the “L” sound is clear and separate. |
| Why It’s Named | Called “Sun letters” because the word ash-shams itself shows the merging sound. | Called “Moon letters” because al-qamar keeps the “L” sound. |
| Number of Letters | 14 letters | 14 letters |
| Letters List | ت، ث، د، ذ، ر، ز، س، ش، ص، ض، ط، ظ، ل، ن | ا، ب، ج، ح، خ، ع، غ، ف، ق، ك، م، هـ، و، ي |
| الشمس: ash-shamsالنور : an-noorالسماء : as-samaa’الزهر : az-zahrالطالب at-taalibاللحم : al-lahm (note the merging “L”) | 1. القمر : al-qamar2. الكتاب : al-kitab3. البيت : al-bayt4. الجبل : al-jabal5. الولد : al-walad6. المطار : al-matar |
How “Al” Changes Pronunciation
When the Arabic definite article “ال” (Al) comes before a word, it doesn’t always sound the same.
Sometimes you hear it clearly, like in “القمر” (Al-qamar – the moon), and other times it almost disappears, like in “الشمس” (Ash-shams – the sun).
This isn’t random — Arabic letters are divided into Sun Letters (حروف شمسية) and Moon Letters (حروف قمرية), and that’s what causes the difference in pronunciation. Let’s break it down simply.
Through the Quran Classes for Adults, you’ll not only learn meanings but also practice pronouncing every letter correctly — starting from the Sun and Moon letters.
From the Sun to the Moon – A Simple Contrast
Sun letters make the “l” in “Al” merge into the following letter — so you don’t say “Al-shams,” but rather “Ash-shams.”
Moon letters, on the other hand, keep the “l” sound clear, like in “Al-qamar” or “Al-walad.”
Quick Reference and Practice
Now that you understand the difference, let’s review it quickly and do a few easy exercises to help it stick in your mind.
Memorization Tips and Mini Exercises
- Write all the Sun Letters on one line and add your own example for each.
- Do the same for the Moon Letters.
- Read the words aloud and focus on how “Al” sounds in each.
- Try saying them slowly and then faster to feel the change in pronunciation.
- Play a quick game with a friend: they say a word, and you guess if it’s a Sun or Moon word!
Read more about: Is Arabic A Hard Language To Learn
Common Mistakes to Avoid
A lot of learners mess up when it comes to pronouncing Sun and Moon letters, especially when the word starts with “ال” (Al-).
Knowing where these mistakes happen — and how to fix them — makes a huge difference in sounding natural and fluent in Arabic.
Forgetting the Shadda with Sun Letters
One of the most common mistakes is forgetting to add the shadda ( ّ ) when a word starts with a Sun letter. That small mark completely changes the pronunciation!
For example, the word “الشمس” (the sun) should be pronounced “Ash-shams”, not “Al-shams.”
The shadda means you merge the “L” sound into the following letter — making your speech smoother and more authentic.
Overpronouncing the “L” before Moon Letters
On the other hand, some people go too far when pronouncing the “L” before Moon letters, making it sound heavy and unnatural.
For example, the word “القمر” (the moon) should be pronounced “Al-qamar” softly, not “Al-lqamar.” The “L” should be clear, but gentle — just enough to sound natural.
Students in the Online Noorani Qaida Course start by mastering Sun and Moon letters, making Quran reading easier from the very beginning.
Learn about: Arabic Lessons For Kindergarten
Fast Mnemonics to Remember
Instead of memorizing long lists, you can use simple cues or phrases that make remembering Sun and Moon letters easy and fun.
Sun Letters Cue
To quickly memorize the 14 Sun letters, just remember this phrase: “ت ثم دع ذنبا رمز س ش ص ض ط ظ ل ن”
Each letter in this sentence represents one of the Sun letters — once you get used to it, you’ll recall them in seconds.
Moon Letters Cue
And for the 14 Moon letters, here’s your magic phrase: “اَبْغِ حَجَّكَ وَخَفْ عَقِيمَهُ”
Each letter here stands for a Moon letter. Keep this sentence in mind and you’ll never confuse the two again when reading or writing Arabic.
Learn Sun and Moon Letters Arabic the Easy Way with Al Waleed Academy
Understanding the Sun and Moon letters Arabic is one of the most important steps in mastering correct Qur’an recitation and clear Arabic pronunciation.
At Al Walid Academy, we simplify this concept through practical lessons and real-life examples that help students speak and recite with confidence.
Here’s why students choose Al Waleed Academy to learn Arabic pronunciation:
- Step-by-step guidance that turns complex Arabic rules into simple, clear lessons.
- Special focus on tajweed and accurate pronunciation using Qur’anic verses.
- Engaging activities and memory tricks to help you remember Sun and Moon letters easily.
- Dedicated instructors who guide you through every stage of learning.
- Flexible online sessions that suit your time and pace.
Start your journey with Al Walid Academy today and master the Sun and Moon letters Arabic with clarity and confidence.
Take your first step now — learn, practice, and perfect your recitation with us.
Learn Quran, Arabic, and Islamic Studies with certified teachers in fun, interactive, and personalized sessions. Join thousands of students around the world and begin your path today!
FAQs
Why do we say “Ash-shams” instead of “Al-shams”?
It’s simple! The word “Ash-shams” starts with a sun letter, which means the “L” in “Al” isn’t pronounced. Instead, that sound blends into the next letter with a shaddah (a doubled sound).
So instead of saying “Al-shams,” you’ll say “Ash-shams” for smooth and correct pronunciation.
Does the writing change when the letter is a sun letter?
Not at all! The writing stays exactly the same — it’s always written as “ال.”
The difference only appears in how you pronounce it, not in how you spell it. So it’s more of a pronunciation rule than a writing one.
Are letters like “ب” (ba) and “م” (meem) sun or moon letters?
Those are moon letters, which means the “L” sound in “Al” is clearly pronounced. For example, in “البيت” (the house), you’ll say “Al-bayt,” not “Abayt.” The “L” stays clear and natural in sound.
Do I really need to follow this rule when reading the Qur’an?
Absolutely! This rule is a key part of tajweed and proper recitation. Pronouncing the letters correctly makes your recitation sound beautiful and accurate, and helps you read like a native Arabic speaker.
I’m a beginner — do I need to memorize all 28 letters right away?
No, take it easy! You can learn them step by step. There are fun mnemonic phrases that make remembering the Sun and Moon letters much easier.
When you connect the letters with words or examples, it becomes simpler — and way more enjoyable to learn.
Why are they called Sun and Moon letters?
They are called “Sun” (Shamsiyyah) and “Moon” (Qamariyyah) letters because of how the “L” in “Al” behaves—hidden in Sun letters and pronounced in Moon letters.
How many Sun and Moon letters are there in Arabic?
There are 14 Sun letters and 14 Moon letters, making 28 total letters in the Arabic alphabet.
How can I remember which letters are Sun or Moon?
You can memorize the famous Arabic phrases that group them, like “طب ثم صل رحماً…” for Sun letters and “ابغ حجك وخف عقيمه” for Moon letters.
Do Sun and Moon letters affect meaning?
No, they only affect pronunciation—not the meaning of the word.
How do Sun and Moon letters relate to Quran recitation?
They’re important in Tajweed, as they help maintain correct pronunciation when reading verses that begin with “Al.”
Can non-native speakers easily learn Sun and Moon letters?
Yes! With practice and examples, even beginners can easily master the difference between Sun and Moon letters in Arabic.
