Tajweed Colour Guide
Our free Quran reader uses a visual colour-coding system to help you recite the Quran correctly in English transliteration. Instead of memorising complex rules and Arabic terms first, you can follow the colours to learn proper prolongation, nasalisation, echoing, and silent letters.
How to Use the Color Guide
When reading Quran pages, you will notice certain letters and vowel marks highlighted in different colours. Each colour represents a specific Tajweed rule. Apply the following pronunciation cues as you recite.
Red Tones — Prolongation (Madd)
Hold for 2, 4, 5, or 6 counts
Red indicates elongation (Madd). Vowels marked in red must be held longer than usual. A bright red indicates the longest prolongation (4-6 counts), while lighter red tones represent shorter prolongations (2 counts). Holding these correctly is essential for maintaining the correct meter and meaning of the verses.
Green — Nasalisation (Ghunnah)
Hold for 2 counts in the nasal passage
Green indicates nasalisation (Ghunnah). When you see a green highlight, pronounce the letter with a humming sound originating from the nasal cavity (nose) rather than the throat. This is typically applied to double vowels (Tanween) and the letters Noon and Meem under specific conditions.
Blue — Emphatic & Heavy (Tafkheem)
Pronounce with a full, round mouth
Blue indicates heavy or emphatic letters (Tafkheem). Pronounce these letters with the back of the tongue raised towards the roof of the mouth, creating a full and deep echoing sound in the mouth cavity.
Purple — Echoing (Qalqalah)
Bounce the sound slightly
Purple indicates echoing (Qalqalah). This applies to five letters (Qaf, Ta, Ba, Jeem, Dal) when they are silent (have a Sukoon) or when pausing at the end of a verse. Make a slight quick bounce or release sound when pronouncing these letters.
Grey — Silent Letters
Skip during recitation
Grey indicates silent letters. These letters are written in the text for grammatical reasons but are completely ignored during pronunciation. Jump straight to the next active letter.
Practice Your Tajweed
Now that you understand the visual colour code, apply these rules in the reader. Start from Surah Al-Fatiha, which covers basic prolongation and pronunciation guidelines.