Darga (Hebrew: דַּרְגָּא‎) is a cantillation mark commonly found in the Torah, Haftarah, and other books. The symbol for the darga resembles a backwards Z.^[1]

The darga is usually followed by a Tevir.^[2] It is most often found in places where a Tevir clause has two words which are closely related.^[3] The Hebrew word דַּרְגָּא translates into English as step. With the Hebrew word tevir meaning "broken," the combination of darga tevir means "broken step."

Darga can also be followed by a Munach Rivia,^[4] and can (rarely) be followed by a Mercha Kefula, an altogether rare trope.^[5]

Total occurrences

Melody

The Ashkenazic darga is recited in a fast, downward slope, as follows:

The Sefardic darga is ascending, and the Moroccan darga is descending with a waver in the middle.^[8]

References