1 hamza | Definition of hamza

hamza

noun
ham·​za | \ ˈham-zÉ™ How to pronounce hamza (audio) , ˈhäm- How to pronounce hamza (audio) \
variants: or hamzah

Definition of hamza

: the sign for a glottal stop in Arabic orthography usually represented in English by an apostrophe

First Known Use of hamza

1813, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for hamza

Arabic hamza, literally, compression

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More from Merriam-Webster on hamza

Britannica English: Translation of hamza for Arabic Speakers