Lesson 12: Letters Kāf (ك) and Lām (ل)
These are very similar letters when they are isolated os positioned at the end of a word however, they are not similar in sound:
- ك Kāf is pronounced and written as a /K/ in English.
- ل Lām is pronounced and written as an /L/ in English.
Arabic Letter Connections
The shapes of Kāf and Lām change depending on their position in a word. They are both dual-joining-letters, which means they connect to both the preceding and following letters in a word.
| Final | Medial | Initial | Isolated | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ـك | ـكـ | كـ | ك | Kāf (k) |
| ـل | ـلـ | لـ | ل | Lām (l) |
In addition to standard connections, Arabic script includes ligatures, which are special combined forms of certain letter pairs. The most common ligature is لا (Lam-Alif), where ل (Lām) and ا (Alif) are combined into a single, unique shape.
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This self-guided book is designed for absolute beginners who want to learn how to read and write in Levantine Arabic clearly and confidently. Through step-by-step explanations, engaging exercises, and answer keys at the end of each unit, you’ll build your skills gradually and independently.