# Qalqalah (echoing) (قَلْقَلَة)

Qalqalah is a slight echo or bounce on the five letters ق ط ب ج د when they carry a sukun or when you stop on them.

## Definition

These five letters are “restless” letters: when they are still (sukun) the sound would otherwise stop dead, so a short echo is released from the point of the letter. The echo is stronger when you stop on the letter at the end of a word or ayah.

**Letters:** ق ط ب ج د. Remembered as قُطْبُ جَدٍّ (“qutbu jadd”).

## How to pronounce

1. Pronounce the letter with its sukun, then release a quick, light bounce from the same place.
2. In the middle of a word the echo is small; when stopping at the end of an ayah it is a little stronger.
3. Keep ق and ط heavy and ب ج د lighter.

## Examples from the Quran

- ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ  (Al-Ikhlas 112:2): Allāh, the Eternal Refuge. — https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-ikhlas/2
- ثُمَّ أَدْبَرَ يَسْعَىٰ  (An-Nazi'at 79:22): Then he turned his back, striving [i.e., plotting]. — https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/an-naziat/22
- فِرْعَوْنَ وَثَمُودَ  (Al-Buruj 85:18): [Those of] Pharaoh and Thamūd? — https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-buruj/18
- وَٱدْخُلِى جَنَّتِى  (Al-Fajr 89:30): And enter My Paradise." — https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-fajr/30
- فَلْيَدْعُ نَادِيَهُۥ  (Al-'Alaq 96:17): Then let him call his associates; — https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-alaq/17

## Common mistakes

- Adding a vowel (“buh”, “duh”) instead of a clipped echo.
- Skipping the echo, so the letter is swallowed.

## FAQ

**What are the letters of qalqalah?** ق ط ب ج د (قُطْبُ جَدٍّ).

**Does qalqalah happen with a vowel?** No. It applies only when the letter is sakin (has a sukun) or when you stop on it.

## Related

- [Ghunnah (nasal sound)](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/ghunnah)
- [Tafkheem & tarqeeq (heavy and light letters)](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/tafkheem-tarqeeq)
- [Waqf signs (stopping marks)](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/waqf-signs)

Cite: Qalqalah (echoing). Noor Quran. https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/qalqalah

Canonical: https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/tajweed/qalqalah