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The Marker of "Shadda"الشدة

  • Page ID
    278381
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    Learning Objectives
    • Objective 1
    • Objective 2

    Introduction

    Shaddah (شَدّة) is an important concept in Arabic pronunciation that you’ll encounter early on in your learning journey. Here’s a simple explanation:

    "Shadda" is an Arabic word, and it means strength. "Shadda" is one of the diacritical marks, and it doubles the consonant it is written on. The first consonant has no vowel, and the second carries one of the diacritical marks except "Sukoon." The technique of pronouncing the consonant with "Shadda" is to stress it, like stressing the letter T in the English word "Skittle" and stressing the letter Z in the word "Sizzle." "Shadda" can carry the short vowels and Tanween. The shape of "Shadda" is a small w above the letter. 

    What is Shaddah?

    Shaddah (شَدّة) is a small symbol that looks like a tiny "w" placed above a letter. It indicates that the letter is doubled. In other words, the letter with a Shaddah is pronounced twice in quick succession, as if you’re saying it once, holding it briefly, and then saying it again.

    Why is Shaddah Important?

    In Arabic, the meaning of a word can change completely depending on how a letter is pronounced. The Shaddah helps to clarify pronunciation, ensuring that the word is spoken correctly. For example:

    • كَتَب (kataba) means "he wrote."
    • كَتَّبَ (kattaba) means "he made someone write."

    Notice how the Shaddah on the letter ت in the second word doubles its sound and changes the meaning entirely.

    How to Pronounce a Letter with Shaddah

    Let’s take the letter م as an example. Without a Shaddah, you’d simply pronounce it as "m." But with a Shaddah (مّ), you pronounce it like this:

    1. M – Hold the sound for a tiny bit longer than usual.
    2. M – Then, say the sound again.

    So, if you see the word أمّ, which means "mother," you’d pronounce the مّ as "mm," almost like you’re holding onto the sound briefly before moving on.

    Practice Tip

    Whenever you see the Shaddah symbol, pause slightly on that letter and pronounce it as two of the same letter. It may feel a bit strange at first, but with practice, it will become more natural. You should know that the first letter in the Arabic word can't hold "Shaddah," and long vowels can't carry "Shadda," but the letter before can do.

    Understanding Shaddah will help you read and speak Arabic more accurately, so take your time to get comfortable with it!

    Activities

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    The Marker of "Shadda"الشدة is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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