سش
S / AOne extra set of dots changes the sound.
س (sīn) is /s/. ش (shīn) is /sh/ and has three dots above it. Compare the sounds as you read: s-s-s, then sh-sh-sh.
A free Arabic typing lesson
Learn Arabic typing, one key at a time.
Understand the keyboard layout, recognize letters that are easy to mix up, learn the marks that guide pronunciation, and practice useful phrases. No account or lesson purchase needed.
4Lessons
4Practice phrases
Lesson 1 · key positions
The English key is a map, not a translation.
With the English-keyboard mode selected, each physical key produces the Arabic letter shown on its keycap. For example, A produces ش and H produces ا. Learn the position first; spelling and pronunciation still come from the Arabic word.
Start with the home row: keep your fingers near A–S–D–F and J–K–L. On harf, those keys produce ش س ي ب ت ن م respectively; G and H between them produce ل and ا.
Open the typing keyboardExplore the key map
Select a key to see its Arabic letter.
Selected key: A→ش
Lesson 2 · recognize letters
Notice the dots, then listen for the difference.
Several Arabic letters share a basic shape. Their dots and sounds distinguish them, so check both while reading and typing.
هة
I / MA final ة is not the same letter as ه.
ه (hāʾ) is hāʾ. ة (tāʾ marbūṭa) commonly appears at the end of feminine nouns, such as مدرسة. Its pronunciation can vary with how the sentence is read.
تط
J / 'The tongue position matters.
ت (tāʾ) is a light /t/. ط (ṭāʾ) is an emphatic /ṭ/. The dot is part of the letter identity, not decoration.
Lesson 3 · vowel marks
Tashkeel makes pronunciation visible.
Most everyday Arabic writing leaves short vowels unmarked. Tashkeel is useful in beginner materials, dictionaries, and anywhere a reader needs extra pronunciation guidance.
A change in meaning
دَرَسَ / دَرَّسَ
darasa means “he studied”; darrasa means “he taught.” The shadda in the second word marks a doubled r.
Fatha
A short “a” after the consonant: بَـ sounds like ba.
Kasra
A short “i” below the consonant: بِـ sounds like bi.
Damma
A short “u” above the consonant: بُـ sounds like bu.
Sukun
Marks a consonant with no short vowel after it.
Shadda
Doubles the consonant. It can appear with a vowel mark, as in دَرَّسَ.
Tanwin
The paired marks at a word ending add an “n” sound; the exact ending depends on grammar.
Lesson 4 · reading flow
Read from right to left; let the browser shape the letters.
Arabic words run right to left, while numerals usually remain left to right. A letter’s written shape changes with its position, but normal Arabic Unicode text handles those connected forms automatically—type the letter itself, not a separate “initial” or “final” version.
One useful pattern: ا د ذ ر ز و do not connect to the next letter on their left. A visible gap after one of them can be normal, even in the middle of a word.
Three punctuation marks to recognize
،Arabic comma
؛Arabic semicolon
؟Arabic question mark
Use Arabic punctuation in Arabic sentences for a consistent reading flow. The punctuation mark still belongs at the end of the sentence, even though that end appears on the left.
Put it into practice
Type a useful phrase.
Type with an English keyboard and harf will map the physical keys, or select letters in the key map above. You can also type directly with an Arabic keyboard. Your practice text stays in this page and is not sent to a service.
Completed0 / 4
Phrase 1 / 4
salāmسلام
A short greeting: peace.
For more device-specific help, browse the Arabic typing guides.
Browse all guides