Guidelines for the Meem and Noon with Shadda

The doubled letters “noon” (النون) and “meem” (المِيم) with a shadda, also known as “النون المشددة” and “المِيم المشددة,” are interesting features in Arabic pronunciation and phonetics. These letters exhibit a unique characteristic where they are originally composed of two similar letters, but one carries a sukoon (a diacritical mark indicating a complete absence of vowel sound), and the other carries a short vowel.

In the case of the doubled “meem” (مّ), this letter is essentially two meems merged into one, with the first having a sukoon and the second a short vowel. This assimilation creates what is called a “redoubled letter.” When pronouncing the doubled “meem,” it’s essential to perform a 2-beat ghunna, a specific nasalization of the sound, and to emphasize the letter’s pronunciation. This nasalization should last for a duration of 2 beats to ensure accurate pronunciation.

Consequently, the doubled “meem” is sometimes referred to as the “redoubled nasalized letter.”

Similarly, the redoubled “noon” (نّ) consists of two noon letters, one with a sukoon and the other with a short vowel. To correctly pronounce the redoubled “noon,” it is mandatory to apply nasalization for a duration of 2 beats and reinforce the letter’s sound. This particular type of nasalization is essential to capture the distinctive quality of these letters. As a result, the doubled “noon” is also called the “redoubled nasalized letter.”

Understanding and correctly pronouncing these doubled letters is crucial for achieving precise Arabic pronunciation and recitation, especially in contexts like Quranic recitation, where proper pronunciation is highly valued.