---
title: "The Arabic letter س (sīn): sound, forms and words"
description: "س (sīn) is letter 12 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/sin"
language: "en"
direction: "ltr"
---

# The Arabic letter س (sīn): sound, forms and words

س, called sīn, is letter 12 of the 28 in the Arabic alphabet. How it sounds: s. It joins the letter after it, so it has four written forms.

## How س is written

- Alone: س
- Start: س‍
- Middle: ‍س‍
- End: ‍س

## Arabic words that begin with س

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

- [سَنَة](https://fasaha.app/w/sana) — sana, year (A0)
- [سَكَنَ](https://fasaha.app/w/sakana) — sakana, to live, to reside (A0)
- [سَارَة](https://fasaha.app/w/sara) — Sāra, Sarah (a name) (A0)
- [سَعِيد](https://fasaha.app/w/said) — saʿīd, happy (A0)
- [سُوق](https://fasaha.app/w/suq) — sūq, market (A0)
- [سَلَام](https://fasaha.app/w/salam) — salām, peace; greeting (A0)
- [سَاعَة](https://fasaha.app/w/saa) — sāʿa, hour; clock, watch (A0)
- [سُكَّر](https://fasaha.app/w/sukkar) — sukkar, sugar (A0)
- [سَيَّارَة](https://fasaha.app/w/sayyara) — sayyāra, car (A0)
- [سَمِعَ](https://fasaha.app/w/samia) — samiʿa, to hear (A1)
- [سُؤَال](https://fasaha.app/w/sual) — suʾāl, question (A1)
- [سَفَر](https://fasaha.app/w/safar) — safar, travel, journey (A1)

## Questions about س

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

س (sīn) sounds like this: s.

### Does س join the next letter?

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

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

س is letter 12 of 28, after ز (zāy) and before ش (shīn).

- Previous letter: [ز (zāy)](https://fasaha.app/arabic-alphabet/zay)
- Next letter: [ش (shīn)](https://fasaha.app/arabic-alphabet/shin)

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