How to Pronounce القُدس (al-Quds)

Meaning and Context

القُدس (al-Quds), translating directly to "The Holy," is the definitive Arabic and Palestinian name for the city of Jerusalem, serving as a powerful linguistic and cultural anchor for Arab and Muslim identity. This ancient city, revered in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, is home to the sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque compound (Haram al-Sharif) and the iconic Dome of the Rock, making it a central focal point for religious pilgrimage, historical study, and geopolitical discourse. The term al-Quds itself evokes the city's profound spiritual weight, its millennia of layered history from Canaanite times through Islamic rule, and its enduring status as a symbol of Palestinian heritage and national aspiration. Within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, references to al-Quds emphasize the city's Arab character and Islamic holy sites, often contrasted with the Hebrew name "Yerushalayim." Understanding al-Quds is therefore essential for grasping the cultural, religious, and political dimensions of Jerusalem, a city whose very nomenclature is deeply contested and symbolically charged.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The primary term, القُدس, is consistently spelled in Arabic with a ق (Qaf) and a د (Dal). The most common transliteration into the Latin alphabet is al-Quds, where the "Q" represents the deep, guttural Qaf sound. A frequent error in transliteration is softening the "Q" to a "K," resulting in the incorrect al-Kuds, which loses the distinct Arabic phoneme. Another common typo, especially in English, is al-Quads or al-Quad, likely due to a phonetic mishearing or keyboard slip. The definite article "al-" is sometimes omitted in certain contexts (e.g., "Bayt al-Maqdis," a historical name meaning "The Holy House"), but "al-Quds" is the standard, complete form. It is also occasionally rendered as El-Quds, using an "E" to represent the Arabic vowel, though al-Quds remains the academically and journalistically prevalent spelling.

Example Sentences

For millions of Muslims worldwide, the dream of praying at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in al-Quds represents a profound spiritual journey.

The annual Jerusalem Day commemorations focus on the Islamic and Arab identity of al-Quds and its significance within the Palestinian narrative.

Historians note that the name al-Quds has been used in Arabic texts for centuries to denote the city's sanctity.

In diplomatic statements, Palestinian officials consistently emphasize that any future resolution must address the status of East al-Quds as the capital of a Palestinian state.

The poetry of Mahmoud Darwish is replete with evocative imagery of the olive trees and ancient stones of al-Quds, symbolizing resilience and rootedness.

When discussing the city's complex history, it is crucial to acknowledge both its universal religious importance and the specific cultural resonance of its name, al-Quds.

Related Pronunciations

• How to pronounce Baghdad
• How to pronounce Aleppo
• How to pronounce Shiraz
• How to pronounce Damascus
• How to pronounce Salalah