What is a Makharij Chart?
A Makharij Chart is a visual diagram that shows all Arabic letter articulation points (makharij) organized systematically. It serves as a quick reference guide for learners to understand where each Arabic letter is produced in the mouth, throat, or nose.
This chart is designed to complement your detailed learning from our comprehensive Makharij guide by providing a visual overview that you can reference during practice sessions.
Why Use a Visual Chart?
- Quick reference: Instantly locate any letter's articulation point
- Visual learning: Helps visual learners understand spatial relationships
- Practice aid: Use during recitation to check pronunciation
- Teaching tool: Teachers can use it to explain concepts to students
- Memory aid: Reinforces learning through visual association
Complete Makharij Chart
Visual Makharij Chart - Arabic Letter Articulation Points
Chart Legend: This visual diagram shows the five main regions of articulation in Arabic. Each colored area represents a different region, with specific letters grouped by their articulation points. Use this chart as a visual reference during practice.
Quick Reference - Letters by Region
| Region | Arabic Name | Letters | Key Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty Cavity | الجوف (Al-Jawf) | ا، و، ي | قَالَ، مُوسَى، قِيلَ |
| Throat | الحلق (Al-Halq) | ء، ه، ع، ح، غ، خ | أَبٌ، عَلَى، غَفَرَ |
| Tongue | اللسان (Al-Lisan) | ق، ك، ج، ش، ي، ض، ت، د، ط، ل، ن، ر، س، ص، ز، ظ، ث، ذ | قَلْب، جَمَل، ضَرَبَ |
| Lips | الشفتان (Ash-Shafatayn) | ب، م، ف، و | بَيت، فَم، وَقْت |
| Nasal Cavity | الخيشوم (Al-Khayshoom) | ن، م | مِنّ، نُور |
Detailed Articulation Points by Region
Complete Letter-by-Letter Breakdown
| Letter | Transliteration | Region | Specific Point | Practice Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ا | alif | Al-Jawf | Open cavity | قَالَ (qāla) |
| ء | hamzah | Al-Halq | Glottis (deepest) | أَسَد (asad) |
| ب | bāʾ | Ash-Shafatayn | Both lips | بَيت (bayt) |
| ت | tāʾ | Al-Lisan | Tip + alveolar ridge | تَمْر (tamr) |
| ث | thāʾ | Al-Lisan | Tip + between teeth | ثَوْب (thawb) |
| ج | jīm | Al-Lisan | Middle tongue + palate | جَمَل (jamal) |
| ح | ḥāʾ | Al-Halq | Mid-throat | حَجَر (ḥajar) |
| خ | khāʾ | Al-Halq | Upper throat | خَيْر (khayr) |
| د | dāl | Al-Lisan | Tip + alveolar ridge | دَرْس (dars) |
| ذ | dhāl | Al-Lisan | Tip + upper teeth | ذَهَب (dhahab) |
| ر | rāʾ | Al-Lisan | Tip + alveolar ridge | رَجُل (rajul) |
| ز | zayn | Al-Lisan | Blade + alveolar ridge | زَهْر (zahr) |
| س | sīn | Al-Lisan | Blade + alveolar ridge | سَمَاء (samāʾ) |
| ش | shīn | Al-Lisan | Middle tongue + palate | شَمْس (shams) |
| ص | ṣād | Al-Lisan | Blade + alveolar ridge | صَدْر (ṣadr) |
| ض | ḍād | Al-Lisan | Sides + upper molars | ضَرَب (ḍarab) |
| ط | ṭāʾ | Al-Lisan | Tip + alveolar ridge | طَبِيب (ṭabīb) |
| ظ | ẓāʾ | Al-Lisan | Tip + upper teeth | ظِلّ (ẓill) |
| ع | ʿayn | Al-Halq | Mid-throat | عَلِيّ (ʿAliyy) |
| غ | ghayn | Al-Halq | Upper throat | غَفَر (ghafar) |
| ف | fāʾ | Ash-Shafatayn | Lower lip + upper teeth | فَم (fam) |
| ق | qāf | Al-Lisan | Back tongue + soft palate | قَلْب (qalb) |
| ك | kāf | Al-Lisan | Back tongue + hard palate | كِتَاب (kitāb) |
| ل | lām | Al-Lisan | Tip + alveolar ridge | لَيْل (layl) |
| م | mīm | Ash-Shafatayn | Both lips | مَاء (māʾ) |
| ن | nūn | Al-Lisan | Tip + alveolar ridge | نُور (nūr) |
| ه | hāʾ | Al-Halq | Glottis (deepest) | هَدِيّ (hadiyy) |
| و | wāw | Ash-Shafatayn | Lip rounding | وَقْت (waqt) |
| ي | yāʾ | Al-Lisan | Middle tongue + palate | يَد (yad) |
Note: Some letters appear in multiple regions (like ي and و) depending on their function as consonants or vowel lengtheners. For detailed explanations, see our complete Makharij guide.
How to Use This Chart
For Beginners
- Start with regions: Learn the five main regions first
- Practice region by region: Focus on one region at a time
- Use mirror work: Look at the chart while practicing in front of a mirror
- Feel the points: Touch the articulation points as you practice
- Start slow: Master individual letters before combining them
For Intermediate Learners
- Quick reference: Use the chart to check doubtful pronunciations
- Compare similar letters: Use the chart to see differences between confusing pairs
- Practice minimal pairs: Use the chart to identify which letters to contrast
- Self-correction: Check your pronunciation against the chart
- Teaching aid: Use the chart when helping others learn
For Advanced Learners
- Recitation reference: Keep the chart handy during Quran recitation
- Teaching tool: Use the chart to explain concepts to students
- Refinement aid: Use the chart to fine-tune pronunciation
- Memory reinforcement: Regular review to maintain accuracy
Practice Exercises with Chart
Exercise 1: Region-by-Region Practice
Instructions: Practice each region systematically using the chart as reference.
- Al-Jawf (Empty Cavity): Practice ا، و، ي with open mouth
- Al-Halq (Throat): Practice ء، ه، ع، ح، غ، خ feeling throat depth
- Al-Lisan (Tongue): Practice all tongue letters feeling contact points
- Ash-Shafatayn (Lips): Practice ب، م، ف، و with lip movements
- Al-Khayshoom (Nasal): Practice ن، م with nasal resonance
Exercise 2: Similar Letter Contrasts
Instructions: Use the chart to identify and practice confusing letter pairs.
- ق vs ك: Both tongue letters, but different depths
- ص vs س: Same region, different qualities
- ض vs د: Different tongue contact points
- ط vs ت: Same point, different qualities
- ظ vs ذ: Similar placement, different qualities
Exercise 3: Word Practice
Instructions: Use the chart to analyze and practice complete words.
- قَلْب (qalb): ق (back tongue) + ل (tip) + ب (lips)
- ضَرَبَ (ḍaraba): ض (sides) + ر (tip) + ب (lips)
- عَلِيّ (ʿAliyy): ع (mid-throat) + ل (tip) + ي (middle tongue)
Benefits of Using the Chart
Learning Benefits
- Visual memory: Creates mental images of articulation points
- Systematic learning: Organized approach to pronunciation
- Quick reference: Instant lookup for any letter
- Pattern recognition: See similarities and differences clearly
- Progress tracking: Visual representation of mastered letters
Practice Benefits
- Self-correction: Independent pronunciation checking
- Consistent practice: Systematic approach to daily practice
- Confidence building: Clear reference reduces uncertainty
- Efficient learning: Faster mastery with visual aids
- Retention improvement: Visual association aids memory
Printing and Study Tips
Printing Recommendations
- Paper size: A4 or Letter size for easy handling
- Print quality: High resolution for clear text
- Lamination: Consider laminating for durability
- Multiple copies: Print several for different study locations
- Color printing: Use color to highlight different regions
Study Tips
- Daily review: Look at the chart for 5 minutes daily
- Practice sessions: Keep the chart visible during practice
- Mobile reference: Take a copy with you for practice anywhere
- Teaching sessions: Use the chart when teaching others
- Progress marking: Mark mastered letters on your copy
Combining with Other Resources
- With detailed guide: Use alongside comprehensive Makharij explanations
- With pronunciation guide: Combine with step-by-step instructions
- With practice exercises: Use with regional practice drills
- With mistake guide: Reference common errors while using the chart
Recommended Learning Path
Start: Makharij al-Huruf Overview — understand the complete concept
Next: Regions of Articulation — learn the five main regions
Then: Pronunciation Guide for Non-Arabs — detailed instructions
Practice: Similar Letters Guide — distinguish confusing pairs
Refine: Common Mistakes & Fixes — avoid pronunciation errors
Advanced: Makharij vs Sifaat — understand letter qualities
Ready to Master Makharij with Expert Guidance?
While charts provide excellent visual reference, mastering Makharij requires personalized instruction and regular feedback. Our qualified Tajweed teachers help you apply these articulation points correctly, ensuring accurate pronunciation through hands-on guidance and systematic practice.
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