damma

Meanings

1. In the Arabic script, the vowel point for u, appearing as a small curl placed above a letter ( ـُ ) and designating a short u /u/. If the Arabic letter و (wāw) immediately follows, it indicates a long ū /uː/.
2. In Iranian Persian ـُ represents the vowel /o/. If the letter ـو immediately follows it represents the diphthong /ow/. This usage differs from other Arabic script languages and from classical Persian, in which the diphthong /ow/ did not occur.

1. Alternative form of damma.

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic ضَمَّة (ḍamma, “a joining”), instance noun of the verb ضَمَّ (ḍamma, “to join”). Refers to the joining of the lips together when making an /u/ sound.