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.