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ي

Ya

يَاء

y / ī · "y" in yes or "ee" in feet

Moon letter

How it is written

يIsolated
يـInitial
ـيـMedial
ـيFinal

Arabic letters change shape depending on where they sit in a word.

How it sounds

y / ī

The same in all four dialects.

For how pronunciation shifts by region, see the dialect guide

With the definite article

الـ + ي ← الـي

When الـ comes before this letter, the L stays clearly pronounced and the article is unchanged.

Writing practice

Trace this letter in the unit that teaches it. Your score counts towards the writing course.

Practise writing