hamza

noun

ham·​za ˈham-zə How to pronounce hamza (audio) ˈhäm- How to pronounce hamza (audio)
variants or hamzah
: the sign for a glottal stop in Arabic orthography usually represented in English by an apostrophe

Word History

Etymology

Arabic hamza, literally, compression

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hamza was in 1813

Dictionary Entries Near hamza

hamus

hamza

hamzated

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Hamza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamza. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hamza

Britannica English: Translation of hamza for Arabic Speakers

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