Madda
/ˈmædə/noun
An Arabic orthographic sign, written ٓ, indicating that an alif carries a long ā sound, often with a glottal stop before it.
Did you know?In Qur’anic recitation, related rules of madd prescribe how long certain vowels should be sustained, making vocal duration part of the sacred reading tradition.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*m-d-d
“To stretch, extend, or measure out”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
مَدّ (madd)
“Extension, lengthening, or prolongation”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
مَدّة (maddah)
“A period, span, or quantity of extended time”
Medieval Arabic
Arabic
مَدّة (madda)
“The orthographic lengthening sign placed over an alif”
19th–20th Century
English
madda
“A term used in English discussions of Arabic writing and pronunciation”
Modern English
English
madda
“The Arabic sign ٓ indicating vowel lengthening, especially in أٓ or آ”