Kashida (tatweel)

Kashida, also called tatweel, is the lengthening of the line that joins Arabic letters, used to justify a line by elongating letters rather than widening the spaces.

The word comes from Persian and means extended or stretched.

Calligraphers also use it for emphasis and in book and chapter titles.

It generally appears in only one word per line and one letter per word, and only between certain letters.

In some calligraphic styles it takes a subtle downward curve, while most basic fonts draw it flat.

In Mashq Studio

In the Studio editor, for styles that stretch with tatweel, tap a joint in the Kashida strip to lengthen it one step at a time (up to 6), or press Propose to have elongations suggested that you approve one by one. Open the Studio, free.

Where Mashq Learn teaches it · Free practice sheets

Other terms: Qalam, the reed pen · The measure in dots (mizan) · Tashkeel, the Arabic diacritics · the glossary

Sources: Wikipedia — Kashida · Wiktionary — كشيدة