What is ر?

ر (Râ)

ر (Râ) is the tenth letter of the Arabic alphabet. It represents a voiced alveolar trill, similar to the "r" in Spanish or Italian. Its isolated form is ر, and it connects from the right.

Pronunciation: ر is typically pronounced as a voiced alveolar trill ([r]), but its pronunciation can vary slightly depending on the dialect and surrounding vowels. Sometimes, it is pronounced as an alveolar flap ([ɾ]).

Variations and Context: The sound of ر can be subject to tafkhim (emphasis) or tarqiq (lightening) depending on the vowels or consonants surrounding it. This affects the perceived "thickness" or "thinness" of the sound. The rules for tafkhim and tarqiq of ر are an important aspect of Tajwid (rules for recitation of the Quran).

Romanization: ر is commonly romanized as 'r'.

Position in the Alphabet: It follows ذ and precedes ز in the standard Arabic alphabetical order.

Numerical Value (Abjad): In the Abjad numeral system, ر has a numerical value of 200. The Abjad system assigns numerical values to letters, which has historical significance in various contexts.