خدا حافظkhudā hāfiz — goodbyeloch-rasp at the start
غزلghazal — ghazal (love poem)gargled g — gh-uh-zul
قلمqalam — pendeep-throat k: q-uh-lum
Good to know
✨ خ (khe) — the rasp in Scottish “loch” or German “Bach”. Push air through a nearly-closed throat. You've been saying it in khudā hāfiz all along.
✨ غ (ghain) — the same rasp, but voiced: a gentle gargle, like the French r in “Paris”. It starts the word ghazal.
✨ ق (qāf) — a k made deeper in the throat, at the uvula. Feel your tongue's back touch further down. In relaxed speech many speakers soften it toward k — so close is fine.
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