Arabic Letter Faa (ف): Learn How to Read and Write Faa

SaudiDialect Arabic Letters Lab
Meet Faa (ف)
حرف الفاء

Meet Faa (ف), the twentieth letter of the Arabic alphabet. It has one dot above and usually produces the familiar f sound. In addition, Faa can connect to letters on both sides when the neighboring letters allow it.

Arabic letter: ف Name: Faa Letter #20 1 dot above Connects both sides
LETTER 20
ف
FAA
01
MEET THE LETTER

What Is the Arabic Letter Faa (ف)?

Faa is the twentieth letter of the Arabic alphabet. It has one dot above and represents the sound /f/. Fortunately for English speakers, this sound is very familiar because it is similar to the f in words such as “fish.” Meanwhile, its Arabic shape changes according to its position.

Arabic Letter ف
Letter Name Faa
Alphabet Order #20
Basic Sound /f/
02
LOOK & COMPARE

Faa (ف) and Qaaf (ق): Learn the Difference

Beginners may confuse Faa (ف) and Qaaf (ق) because both letters include dots above a rounded shape. However, Faa has one dot above, while Qaaf has two dots above. Their sounds are also completely different.

ف Faa — one dot above
ق Qaaf — two dots above
LETTER LAB TIP

When you see ف, count the dots: one dot above = Faa. Qaaf (ق), the next Arabic letter, has two dots above.

03
DOT LAB

Where Is the Dot on the Arabic Letter Faa?

ف ● One dot above

Look above the rounded part.

Faa has one dot above its main shape. This dot stays with the letter as its shape changes inside words. Therefore, checking the number of dots is useful when distinguishing Faa from similar letters.

04
SHAPE SHIFT

How to Write Faa (ف) in Its Four Arabic Forms

Faa is a connecting Arabic letter. Therefore, it can join letters before and after it when those letters also permit connection. Notice how the rounded part becomes smaller in the initial and medial forms while the dot remains above.

ISOLATED ف by itself
INITIAL فـ at the beginning
MEDIAL ـفـ connected both sides
FINAL ـف at the end
CONNECTION RULE

Faa can connect on both sides. However, the actual connection depends on whether the neighboring Arabic letters can also connect.

05
SOUND LAB

How Do You Pronounce the Arabic Letter Faa?

Faa (ف) represents the sound /f/. It is similar to the English f in words such as “fish,” “food,” and “coffee.” As a result, many beginners find Faa easier to pronounce than some of the deeper Arabic throat sounds.

فَ fa FatHa
فِ fi Kasra
فُ fu Damma
06
WORD SHELF

Arabic Words with the Letter Faa (ف)

Next, find Faa in these Arabic words. The examples show Faa at the beginning, middle, and end of a word. Pay attention to its one dot above while observing how the connected shape changes.

فندق funduq hotel
مفتاح miftaaH key
هاتف haatif phone
FAA MINI WORKSHEET

Practice the Arabic Letter Faa

LETTER 20
1

Find every Faa (ف).

ف ق غ ف ق ف ع
2

Trace Faa.

ف ف ف ف ف
3

Compare Faa and Qaaf.

ف
ق
ف
ق
ف
ق
4

Read these Faa sounds.

فَ
فِ
فُ
5

Find Faa inside these words.

فندق
مفتاح
هاتف
08
QUICK QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions About Arabic Faa

What is Faa in Arabic?

Faa (ف) is the twentieth letter of the Arabic alphabet. It has one dot above and represents the /f/ sound.

How is the Arabic letter Faa pronounced?

Faa is pronounced /f/, similar to the English f sound in words such as “fish” and “food.”

How many dots does Faa have?

Faa has one dot above. This is an important visual feature when identifying the letter.

What is the difference between Faa (ف) and Qaaf (ق)?

In the standard Arabic script used here, Faa has one dot above, while Qaaf has two dots above. They also represent different sounds.

Does Faa connect to other Arabic letters?

Yes. Faa can connect on both sides when its neighboring letters also permit connection.

What are the four forms of Faa?

Depending on its position, Faa can appear as ف, فـ, ـفـ, or ـف.

What are some Arabic words with Faa?

For example, Faa appears in فندق (funduq), مفتاح (miftaaH), and هاتف (haatif).