Zay or Dhal?

These are made at different places in the mouth. Find the right place and the difference takes care of itself.

زZay

The tongue tip and lower teeth

The tip sits just behind the lower front teeth and the air is forced through a narrow channel, producing a whistle. Ṣād, sīn and zāy share this whistle.

ذDhal

The tongue tip between the teeth

The tip pushes out between the teeth, touching the edges of the upper front teeth, and the air passes over it. Ẓāʾ, dhāl and thāʾ are made here.

Two words, one letter apart

Everything else in these words is identical. If you can hear which is which, you have the letter.

زَلَّ

zalla

he slipped

ذَلَّ

dhalla

he was humbled

See all seventeen articulation points