Live preview: Amiri
Live preview of Amiri, a free font under the SIL Open Font License.
Amiri: The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Ψ¨Ψ³Ω Ψ§ΩΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨ±ΨΩ Ω Ψ§ΩΨ±ΨΩΩ
An Arabic font is a font made for the Arabic script, which is written from right to left and has letters that join together inside a word. The same script, with some extra letters, is used for Urdu, Persian and other languages, so a good Urdu font is also an Arabic-script font, usually in the flowing Nastaliq style.
This guide explains the main Arabic font styles, the best free Arabic fonts you can download legally, how to find a clear Quran big font for easy reading, and how to type Arabic and Urdu on your phone or computer. The preview above uses Amiri, a free Naskh-style Arabic font.
Free Arabic Fonts and Urdu Fonts on Google Fonts
All of these are free under the SIL Open Font License, so you can use them for personal and commercial work.
- AmiriππΆπ²π»π²
- Noto Naskh Arabicβπ π₯π βππ€ππ πΈπ£ππππ
- Noto Nastaliq Urduπ½πππ π½πππππππ ππππ
- Scheherazade NewΛ’αΆΚ°α΅Κ°α΅Κ³α΅αΆ»α΅α΅α΅ α΄Ία΅Κ·
- Lateefππππππ
- Cairoπ’πΊπππ
- Tajawalππ °π Ήπ °ππ °π »
- Reem Kufiββ―β―π π¦ππ»πΎ
Arabic Script Basics: Why an Arabic Font Is Different
Arabic is not like English, where each letter stands alone. A few things make an Arabic font special:
- Right to left: text starts on the right side of the line. Apps and websites need to know this, or the text looks broken.
- Joining letters: most letters connect to the next one. Each letter can have up to four shapes: alone, at the start, in the middle and at the end of a word. The font and the app choose the right shape for you.
- Dots and marks: many letters differ only by their dots. Short vowel marks (harakat) sit above or below the letters, and they matter a lot in Quran text.
- Ligatures: some letter pairs, like lam and alif, join into one special shape.
Because of this, you cannot just "convert" English letters into Arabic with a font. A real Arabic font only changes how Arabic letters look.
Arabic Font Style Guide: Naskh, Nastaliq, Kufic and More
Arabic calligraphy has many classic styles, and modern Arabic calligraphy fonts follow them. Here are the ones you will meet most:
| Style | Looks like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Naskh | Clear, rounded, balanced | Reading, books, Quran text, documents |
| Nastaliq | Flowing, sloping, words drop diagonally | Urdu text, Urdu poetry and ghazals |
| Kufic | Angular, straight lines, geometric | Logos, headings, decoration |
| Thuluth | Tall, curved, very decorative | Titles, wall art, mosque decoration |
| Diwani | Tightly packed, curly, ornate | Certificates, invitations, artistic pieces |
| Ruq'ah | Simple, quick handwriting | Everyday notes, an Arabic handwriting font look |
For long reading, pick Naskh. For Urdu, pick a Nastaliq font, because Urdu readers expect that style. Modern sans-style Arabic fonts like Cairo and Tajawal look clean on apps and websites, similar to how Poppins or Roboto work for English.
Arabic Font Free Download and Urdu Font Download, Safely
The safest place for an Arabic font free download or an Urdu font download is Google Fonts. Search "Arabic" or "Urdu" in the language filter at fonts.google.com. Good picks:
- Amiri and Scheherazade New: classic Naskh fonts with full vowel marks, good for religious and formal text. Amiri on Google Fonts.
- Noto Naskh Arabic: a clear Naskh font for documents and apps.
- Noto Nastaliq Urdu: a free Nastaliq font for Urdu text. See it on Google Fonts.
- Lateef: a Naskh-style font that also covers Sindhi and other languages.
- Cairo and Tajawal: modern, clean Arabic fonts for websites, apps and Instagram posts.
- Reem Kufi: a Kufic-style font for headings and logos.
All of these are free arabic fonts under the SIL Open Font License. Avoid "all Urdu fonts free download" zip packs on random sites. Many paid calligraphy fonts are shared there without permission, and the files can carry malware.
Quran Font and Quran Big Font for Easy Reading
Many people look for a Quran big font or an extra large font Quran so that elders and children can read without strain. Please treat Quran text with care: use a trusted, checked source and do not edit or re-type verses yourself, because one missing mark can change the meaning.
- Printed copies: large-print Mushaf editions are widely sold. Ask at a trusted Islamic bookshop for a big-font edition.
- Uthmanic script: the fonts made by the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran in Madinah, in the Uthmanic script, are widely used for Quran text in apps and print. Get them from official or trusted Islamic sources.
- Apps: most well-known Quran apps let you increase the text size in settings. This is the easiest way to get a big font on a phone.
- Indo-Pak script: many readers in India and Pakistan learned from the Indo-Pak style of Quran printing, so choose that style in your app if it feels more familiar.
How to Type Arabic and Urdu on Phone and PC
- Android: in Gboard, open Settings, Languages, Add keyboard, then choose Arabic or Urdu. Tap the globe key to switch.
- iPhone: go to Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards, Add New Keyboard, then pick Arabic or Urdu. The iPhone Arabic font is built into iOS, so Arabic text shows correctly in every app.
- Windows: open Settings, Time and language, Language and region, Add a language. Press Windows key + Space to switch keyboards.
- Mac: System Settings, Keyboard, Input Sources, then add Arabic or Urdu.
- Word and Canva: type in Arabic, then pick an Arabic font from the font menu. If letters do not join, the font may not support Arabic. Switch to one from the list above.
Want Urdu ghazal in English font? That means writing Urdu words in Roman (English) letters, like "dil" or "mohabbat". It needs no Arabic font at all. You can style Roman Urdu text with our font generator.
Arabic Font Generator and Urdu Stylish Name Ideas
An "arabic font generator" online usually means one of two things. Some tools make English letters look a bit Arabic, using look-alike characters. Others just add symbols. Neither turns English into real Arabic. For a true Urdu stylish name or Arabic name style, type your name in Arabic or Urdu letters using the keyboard steps above, then decorate it with symbols like κ§ κ§ or β around it.
Our Urdu font style page shows how to add decorations to Urdu text for an Instagram bio or WhatsApp status. For English names, try stylish names for girls or stylish names for boys. Keep religious words like Alhamdulillah, MashaAllah and Bismillah respectful: plain, clean styling suits them better than heavy symbols.
Looking for an Urdu pencil font or an Arabic calligraphy font for a poster? Use a real calligraphy font in Canva or Photoshop, or ask a calligrapher. Pencil and brush looks are usually done with image effects, not with a copy-paste font.
Common questions
What is the best free Arabic font?
For reading, Amiri, Noto Naskh Arabic and Scheherazade New are excellent free Naskh fonts. For modern apps and social posts, Cairo and Tajawal look clean. All are free on Google Fonts under the SIL Open Font License.
Which is the best Urdu font?
Urdu readers usually prefer the Nastaliq style. Noto Nastaliq Urdu is a free Nastaliq font on Google Fonts. For simple screen text, a Naskh font also works, but it will look less traditional to Urdu readers.
Can an English to Arabic font change my English text into Arabic?
No. A font only changes how letters look, not which language they are. To write in Arabic you need to translate the words or type them on an Arabic keyboard. Fonts that make English look Arabic are only a decorative style.
How do I get a Quran big font on my phone?
Open a trusted Quran app and increase the text size in its settings, or turn up your phone's font size in accessibility settings. For print, buy a large-print Mushaf from a trusted Islamic bookshop.
What is the iPhone Arabic font?
iOS includes Arabic system fonts, and Apple's San Francisco family has an Arabic version called SF Arabic. You do not need to install anything; just add the Arabic keyboard to type.
Are Arabic calligraphy fonts free for logos?
Fonts under the SIL Open Font License, like Reem Kufi or Amiri, can be used in logos. Many other Arabic calligraphy fonts are paid, so check the licence from the designer before using them in a business logo. See our logo fonts guide for more.