sun letter

noun

, Arabic Grammar.

1. any letter, as tā or sīn, representing a consonant that assimilates the l of a prefixed definite article.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sun letter¹

Translation of Arabic al-hurūf ash-shamsīyah, so called from the use of ash-shams “the sun” to illustrate assimilation of l to sh in al “the”