Qaf (ق) — Arabic Letter Guide
A "q" produced deep in the throat — further back than English "k".
Last updated: May 2026 · Letter 21 of 28
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Qaf — qāf (قَاف)
- Transliteration
- q
- IPA
- q
- Unicode
- U+0642
- Keyboard
- R
- Finger
- left index
- Connects?
- Yes — on both sides
What is the letter Qaf?
Qaf is the twenty-first letter of the Arabic alphabet. It shares its base shape with fa (ف) and adds two dots above. The standard Arabic pronunciation is a voiceless uvular stop — deeper in the throat than "k".
The four forms of Qaf
Arabic letters change shape depending on their position in a word. Qaf has four distinct forms:
| Position | Shape | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Isolated | ق | Standing alone |
| Initial | قـ | At the start of a word, connecting to the right |
| Medial | ـقـ | In the middle of a word, connecting on both sides |
| Final | ـق | At the end of a word, connecting only on the right |
How to type Qaf on Arabic keyboard
Arabic 101 key: press R.
Finger: left index finger.
The key for Qaf 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 Qaf
Position your tongue as for English "k", then slide it back along the soft palate toward the uvula. The result is a "k" that comes from much deeper in the mouth. In many spoken dialects (Egyptian, Levantine) qaf is pronounced as a glottal stop or as plain "k".
Example words with Qaf
Letters often confused with Qaf
fa
Same base, fa has one dot, qaf has two.
kaf
Kaf is a regular "k" produced at the front of the soft palate; qaf is deeper.
Build muscle memory for the whole alphabet
Knowing where Qaf 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 qaf (ق) on the Arabic 101 keyboard?
Press the R key — qaf is reached by your left index finger from the top row.
Why does qaf sound like a glottal stop in some accents?
In Egyptian, Levantine, and many urban Arabic dialects, qaf is pronounced as a glottal stop ("ʾ"). In Bedouin and Gulf dialects, qaf is pronounced as "g" (hard g). In Modern Standard Arabic and Quranic recitation, qaf keeps its deep-throat "q" sound.
What's the difference between qaf (ق) and kaf (ك)?
Both are voiceless stops, but qaf is produced deeper in the throat (uvular) while kaf is produced at the soft palate (velar). Qaf sounds heavier and darker; kaf is a regular English-style "k".
Related Arabic letters
Or see the full Arabic 101 keyboard layout.