Foundations

Makhārij — articulation pointsمَخَارِج الحُرُوف

Every Arabic letter has a precise origin point in the mouth, throat, or nose — the makhraj. Classical scholars identify 17 specific points grouped under 5 major zones. Mastering these is the foundation of tajwīd: two letters with the same makhraj but different ṣifāt (characteristics) are genuinely different letters, and getting them right preserves the meaning of the Qur’ān.

The 5 zones

الجَوف

Oral cavity (al-Jawf)الجَوف

3 letters

The empty space of the throat and mouth. No specific contact point — the sound rides on the breath. This is the zone of the long vowels (madd).

اوي

Throat (al-Ḥalq)الحَلْق

6 letters

Three distinct points within the throat: the deepest (close to the chest), the middle, and the nearest (close to the mouth).

ءهعحغخ

Sub-points within this zone

Deepest throat

ءه

Closest to the chest. The source of hamza and hā'.

Middle throat

عح

The centre of the throat. Source of ʿayn and ḥā'.

Near throat

غخ

Closest to the mouth. Source of ghayn and khā'.

Tongue (al-Lisān)اللِّسَان

18 letters

The tongue — by far the richest articulator, with 10 distinct points producing 18 letters. Includes the deepest back of the tongue, the middle, the sides, and the tip.

قكجشيضلنرتدطثذظسزص

Sub-points within this zone

Deepest tongue + upper palate

The tongue's back raises toward the soft palate. Source of qāf.

Back of tongue (slightly forward)

A little forward of qāf. Source of kāf.

Middle of tongue

جشي

Middle of the tongue against the hard palate. Source of jīm, shīn, yā'.

Sides of tongue

The sides of the tongue press against the upper molars — the unique origin of ḍād.

Tip of tongue — upper gum

لنر

Tongue tip behind upper gums. Source of lām, nūn, rā'.

Tongue tip + base of upper teeth

تدط

Tongue tip pressed against the root of the upper front teeth. Source of tā', dāl, ṭā'.

Tongue tip + edge of upper teeth

ثذظ

Tongue tip lightly touching the tips of the upper front teeth. Source of thā', dhāl, ẓā'.

Tongue tip + lower teeth

سزص

Tongue tip just behind the lower front teeth. Source of sīn, zāy, ṣād.

Lips (ash-Shafatān)الشَّفَتَان

4 letters

The two lips. Either both lips together, or the upper teeth on the lower lip.

بموف

Sub-points within this zone

Both lips together

بمو

Lips meet completely. Source of bā', mīm, and wāw (as a consonant).

Upper teeth on lower lip

Inside of the upper front teeth rests on the lower lip. Source of fā'.

Nasal cavity (al-Khayshūm)الخَيْشُوم

2 letters

The inside of the nose — the source of the ghunna (nasalization) on sounds like nūn and mīm, especially when they carry a shaddah or during ikhfā' / idghām with ghunna.

نم

A note on practice

Written descriptions only go so far with makhārij — the actual position of the tongue or the depth of a throat sound is best learned from a qualified teacher who can correct you in real time. Use this page as an overview and a vocabulary reference, and seek in-person or video instruction from a reciter for real practice.