Letter 15 of 28 · Ages 4–7 · Pre-K – Grade 1
Arabic Letter Dad (ض) — Free Tracing Worksheet
Free one-page Dad (ض) tracing worksheet: the letter large in Naskh, its four joined forms, graded tracing rows and 3 words to trace. Pronounced "ḍād". No email, no signup.
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The four shapes of Dad (ض)
Arabic letters change shape depending on where they sit in a word. The same sheet your child traces shows all four, so the changing shape is learned from day one instead of coming as a surprise later.
How to pronounce Dad
“ḍād”. Press the side of your tongue firmly against your upper back teeth and release with your voice on, keeping the whole mouth heavy and full. It is the emphatic, dark partner of د — Arabic is even nicknamed 'the language of the ض' because the sound is so distinctive.
No English equivalent at all — it is the heaviest, fullest sound in the language. Start from a 'd', then make it deep and emphatic. Don't flatten it into a plain 'd'; the mouth must feel full and the vowel after it sounds dark.
The classic mix-up: Replacing ض with a plain 'd'. Cue your child to push the tongue hard against the upper side teeth and 'make it heavy' — the firm side contact plus a full mouth is what produces a true ض.
Words your child already knows with Dad
These are the example words printed on the worksheet — trace them together, then find more around the house.
One activity for this week
Be a big jumping frog: each jump lands with a heavy, deep 'Dif-daʿ!'. The forceful, full-bodied jump matches the forceful, full-mouth posture the ض needs.
Questions
How do you pronounce the Arabic letter Dad (ض)?
Press the side of your tongue firmly against your upper back teeth and release with your voice on, keeping the whole mouth heavy and full. It is the emphatic, dark partner of د — Arabic is even nicknamed 'the language of the ض' because the sound is so distinctive. No English equivalent at all — it is the heaviest, fullest sound in the language. Start from a 'd', then make it deep and emphatic. Don't flatten it into a plain 'd'; the mouth must feel full and the vowel after it sounds dark.
How many dots does the Arabic letter Dad (ض) have?
Dad (ض) has one dot above it.
What is the most common mistake with Dad?
Replacing ض with a plain 'd'. Cue your child to push the tongue hard against the upper side teeth and 'make it heavy' — the firm side contact plus a full mouth is what produces a true ض.
How should I use this Dad worksheet with my child?
Start by tracing the grey letters with a finger — saying "ḍād" out loud each time — then move to pencil on the dotted row, and finish with the empty boxes. Be a big jumping frog: each jump lands with a heavy, deep 'Dif-daʿ!'. The forceful, full-bodied jump matches the forceful, full-mouth posture the ض needs.
Every letter has its own page
Want all 28 in one file? Download the complete alphabet pack →