There is a special symbol in Urdu language called Shath-tha/Shadda, or Tashtheeth, or simply Shad. Whenever this symbol appears on a letter, it shows double letter. It is similar to the doubling of letters in English language as in the words: swimming, better and funny.
A letter with Tashtheeth on it, should be read twice:
1. First with a Sukoon on it. Its sound joins with the sound of the letter and vowel before it.
2. Then the letter is read the second time with the accompanying vowel (short vowel Harkat or long vowel letter).
For example, the word
ابّا = اˊ + ب̉ + ب + ا
It will be read as “ub-baa”; the first Bay with Sakoon joining to the Alif and Zabar before it, and the second Bay joining to the long vowel Alif after it.
بچّہ = بˊ + چ̉ + چˊ + ہ̉
In this word Chay is read twice. The first Chay will join with the letter Bay with Zabar. The second Chay has short vowel Zabar on it and it will join with the letter Hay that comes after it. So, the word will be pronounced as “bach-chaah”
Some other examples are:
گنّے = گˊ + ن̉ + ن + ے
gun-nay
بلّی = ب̦ + ل̉ + ل + ی
bill-lee
مچّھر= مˊ + چھ̉ + چھˊ + ر̉
much-chuhr
In the last example both letter Chay and the connected Do-chashmi Hay letter are doubled because they function as a single unit of sound.
In Urdu using the symbol Shad on top of a letter is the most common way to show the double letter.
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