Ra (ر) — Arabic Letter Guide
A tapped or rolled "r" — like Spanish "r" or Italian "r".
Last updated: May 2026 · Letter 10 of 28
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Ra — rāʾ (رَاء)
- Transliteration
- r
- IPA
- r
- Unicode
- U+0631
- Keyboard
- V
- Finger
- left index
- Connects?
- No (non-connecting on the left)
What is the letter Ra?
Ra is the tenth letter of the Arabic alphabet and one of seven non-connecting letters. It slants below the baseline with a hook shape. The sound is a single tap or short trill — never the smooth American "r".
The four forms of Ra
Arabic letters change shape depending on their position in a word. Ra has two distinct visual forms (it does not connect on the left):
| Position | Shape | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Isolated | ر | Standing alone |
| Initial | ر | Identical to isolated — does not change at word start |
| Medial | ـر | Identical to final — connects only to the preceding letter |
| Final | ـر | At the end of a word, connecting only on the right |
How to type Ra on Arabic keyboard
Arabic 101 key: press V.
Finger: left index finger.
The key for Ra is mapped via the standard Arabic 101 keyboard layout, which is the default Arabic input source on Windows, macOS (as “Arabic - PC”), and most Linux distributions.
How to pronounce Ra
Tap your tongue once against the gum ridge behind the upper teeth. This is the same r-sound as Spanish "pero" or Italian "Roma". English speakers used to a smooth American "r" will need to practice the tap.
Example words with Ra
Letters often confused with Ra
zay
Zay has the same shape with a dot above; zay sounds like "z".
dal
Dal sits on the baseline; ra slants below it.
waw
Final waw has a similar tail but a rounded top.
Build muscle memory for the whole alphabet
Knowing where Ra sits on the keyboard is one thing — being able to touch-type it without thinking is another. Our drills work through every letter in the alphabet with structured progression.
Frequently asked questions
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I type ra (ر) on the Arabic 101 keyboard?
Press the V key — ra sits on the bottom row, under your left index finger.
Is Arabic ra rolled or tapped?
A single tap in most positions — like Spanish "pero". A roll (multiple taps) is sometimes used at the start of an emphatic word or for emphasis in recitation, but the default is a single tap. Avoid the smooth American "r".
How do I tell ra apart from zay?
Same base shape; ra has no dot, zay has one dot above. In sound, ra is a tap or roll; zay is "z".
Related Arabic letters
Or see the full Arabic 101 keyboard layout.
للمعلمين والمدارس
تُعلّم صفًّا أو مدرسة أو حلقة تحفيظ؟
قدّم لطلابك منهج الكتابة العربية المنظّم على الحاسوب والجوّال، مع متابعة واضحة لتقدّم كل متعلّم.