Ta marbuta is a special letter that changes its sound depending on whether you stop or continue.
How it looks
- Alone or after a non-joining letter: ة
- Joined: ـة
- Only at the end of words.
How it sounds
| Reading | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Continuing | “t” | رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ rahmatu-llah |
| Stopping | “h” with sukoon | رَحْمَهْ rahmah |
What it usually means
Most words ending in ة are feminine: مُعَلِّمَة (female teacher), مَدْرَسَة (school), جَنَّة (garden, Paradise). See masculine and feminine.
Three letters children mix up
| Letter | Name | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| ة | Ta marbuta | t (continuing) / h (stopping) |
| ت | Open ta | Always t |
| ه | Ha | Always h |
In the Quran
Many verses end in ة, so the stopping rule matters. See stopping on ة and tanween.
Teacher’s tip: “Ta marbuta wears a hat (two dots) and changes its voice when it stops.” A silly picture helps young children remember.
Related: Tanween.
