Dal (د)
Urdu Letter Dal (د) — Preschool Haroof (Free Worksheets)
How to use this page
Work through the steps in order — watch, identify, hear the sound, colour, trace, write, then check. Most children finish in 10–15 minutes; some steps can be split across two days.
1 Watch
Letter Dal (د) Sound & Shape
Start by watching a short video together. Seeing and hearing د modelled first gives your child a reference point before any activity begins.
2 Colour
Colouring د helps your child spend relaxed, hands-on time with its shape while building fine motor control with a crayon or pencil. This page pairs the letter with a picture for دروازہ (Darwaza — Door), so your child connects the shape to its sound while colouring.
3 Identify
Dal has a simple curved shape, visually related to its retroflex counterpart, Ddal, which adds a small ط (toay) mark above the same base curve. These activities ask your child to circle, find, or match the correct letter among similar-looking ones.
For more practice, try our free Urdu haroof identification worksheets and Adhi Ashkal (half letter) worksheets.
💡 Say it out loud
While your child works through the sheet, say: “Dal — Darwaza.” Verbal repetition alongside the worksheet helps your child connect the letter, sound, and familiar words.
4 Connect
Dal says /d/ — د
Dal represents a soft, dental /d/ sound, made near the teeth. These activities connect the shape of the letter to its beginning sound using pictures your child already recognises.
5 Trace
Learn the Correct Stroke
Dal is one of the seven non-joining letters, so it always stands apart from the letter that follows it, even mid-word — a distinct visual gap that’s normal, not an error. Tracing helps your child build the correct starting point and stroke direction before attempting it freehand.
6 Write Independently
No Dotted Guide
Once tracing feels comfortable, move to writing د without the guide. If it feels tricky at first, that’s a normal early stage — steady practice, not correction, is what builds it into muscle memory.
For extra handwriting practice, see our Urdu tracing and writing worksheets.
7 Check
A short assessment lets you confirm your child recognises, sounds out, and writes د confidently before moving on. This is designed to be completed after your child has worked through at least 3 of the activities above.
For a broader check across several haroof, try our Urdu assessment worksheets.
🏆 Celebrate
Letter Dal (د) Certificate
Once your child passes the check, print this certificate together. It’s a small moment that makes them want to come back for Letter ڈ.
Click here to submit 3 completed worksheets and get a free printable certificate.
What’s next? Move on to the Ddal (ڈ) Learning Path. You can also browse our free Urdu worksheets or see all Learning Paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dal ever connect to the next letter?
No — Dal is one of seven Urdu letters (with Alif, Zaal, Ray, Zay, Zhay, and Wao) that always stay separate from whatever letter follows them, even within the same word. This creates small visual gaps in Urdu words that are completely normal, not a spelling error.
Are there other letters that behave like Dal?
Yes — Dal belongs to a group of seven non-joining letters (with Alif, Zaal, Ray, Zay, Zhay, and Wao) that never connect to the following letter. Once your child learns this as a pattern rather than a one-off rule, it becomes easy to recognise across all seven.
How long should we spend on Dal before moving to the next letter?
2–3 days of focused practice is typical. If your child passes the Dal check comfortably, move on — don’t wait for perfection, since review happens naturally as later letters and words repeat earlier sounds.
How many activities does my child need to finish before getting the certificate?
Complete at least 3 activities from this page, then complete the assessment sheet to earn your certificate.