Kha

/xɑː/ noun

Definition

The eighth letter of the Arabic alphabet, representing a guttural sound similar to the German 'ch' in 'Bach.'

Etymology

From Arabic خ 'khāʾ,' itself derived from ancient Semitic alphabets. The letter represents a sound that doesn't exist in English, making it challenging for English speakers to pronounce.

Kelly Says

This guttural 'kh' sound is one of the hardest sounds for English speakers to master because we don't use our throat muscles that way in English—but native Arabic speakers can hear the difference between 'kh,' 'h,' and other throat sounds instantly.

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