# hamza

/hˈæmzɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hamza
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a small letter in the Arabic alphabet that looks like a small 'a'. It is used to show that a word starts with a sound that is hard to pronounce in English.

For teachers: a letter of the Arabic alphabet, represented by the symbol ٩, used to indicate the presence of a glottal stop or a specific vowel sound.

## Examples

- The word starts with a hamza.
- When learning to read Arabic, students often find the hamza difficult because it represents a sound that does not exist in English.
- The placement of the hamza within the word can significantly alter its pronunciation, often serving as a marker for the beginning of a sentence or a specific grammatical case.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.