---
title: "The Arabic letter غ (ghayn): sound, forms and words"
description: "غ (ghayn) is letter 19 of 28 in the Arabic alphabet: how it sounds, how it is written at the start, middle and end of a word, and Arabic words that begin with it."
canonical: "https://fasaha.app/arabic-alphabet/ghayn"
language: "en"
direction: "ltr"
---

# The Arabic letter غ (ghayn): sound, forms and words

غ, called ghayn, is letter 19 of the 28 in the Arabic alphabet. How it sounds: gh, like a French r. It joins the letter after it, so it has four written forms.

## How غ is written

- Alone: غ
- Start: غ‍
- Middle: ‍غ‍
- End: ‍غ

## Arabic words that begin with غ

From the Fasaha dictionary, easiest first. Each word opens its own page with meaning, root and forms.

- [غَزَال](https://fasaha.app/w/ghazal) — ghazāl, gazelle (A2)
- [غَيْر](https://fasaha.app/w/ghayr) — ghayr, other than, not (A2)
- [غِيَاب](https://fasaha.app/w/ghiyab) — ghiyāb, absence (B1)
- [غَضَب](https://fasaha.app/w/ghadab) — ghaḍab, anger (B1)
- [غَضْبَان](https://fasaha.app/w/ghadban) — ghaḍbān, angry, furious (B1)
- [غُول](https://fasaha.app/w/ghul) — ghūl, ghoul (B2)

## Questions about غ

### How do you pronounce the Arabic letter غ?

غ (ghayn) sounds like this: gh, like a French r.

### Does غ join the next letter?

Yes. غ joins the letter after it, so it has separate start, middle and end shapes: غ‍, ‍غ‍, ‍غ.

### What number is غ in the Arabic alphabet?

غ is letter 19 of 28, after ع (ʿayn) and before ف (fāʾ).

- Previous letter: [ع (ʿayn)](https://fasaha.app/arabic-alphabet/ayn)
- Next letter: [ف (fāʾ)](https://fasaha.app/arabic-alphabet/fa)

[All 28 letters in the alphabet chart](https://fasaha.app/arabic-alphabet-chart)