Understanding the 3 “h” sounds: Challenging sounds in Arabic, part 2
(Haa) ح (khaa) خ (haa) ه
Arabic has three ‘h’ sounds that are each distinct, and which often challenge the learner to first, be able to hear the differences, and then to learn how to produce them correctly, since, as we know, English has only one ‘h’ sound.
Sound 1 - ح
The first of the three ‘h’ sounds is termed a voiceless pharyngeal fricative, meaning that it gets pronounced at the back of the throat with a somewhat ‘raspy’ stream of air being expressed -- similar to the sound made if you were applying a puff of air to your eyeglasses to clean them later with a cloth.
Arabic examples using ح :
حِصان [HiSaan] -- ‘horse’
أَحمَد [‘AHmad] -- ‘male first name’
صَباح [SabaaH] -- ‘morning’
Sound 2 - خ
The second of the three ‘h’ sounds has the same shape as the first one, with the addition of a dot above the letter. This letter is more markedly pronounced, as if one is clearing the throat. It is classified as a voiceless uvular fricative, similar to such words as acht (found in Dutch & German).
In Arabic, it has a heavier sound as compared to the Haa above, with lots of friction created at the back of the mouth.
Arabic examples using خ :
خَيْر [khair] -- ‘goodness’
أُخْت [‘ukht] -- ‘sister’
تأريخ [ta'riikh] -- ‘history’
Sound 3 - ه
The third ‘h’ sound in Arabic is the only one that most closely resembles the ‘h’ sound in English, yet there is still a slight difference. This ‘h’ sound is soft, marked by no raspiness or scratchiness, simply air coming forth without obstruction, and almost has a voiced quality to it, and which is noticeable mostly in the medial position of a word.
Arabic examples using ه :
هُنا -- [hunaa] -- ‘here’
هِيَ -- [hiya] -- ‘she’
أَهلاً -- [‘ahlan] -- ‘hi/hello’