Alqubbah

Alqubbah is the transliteration commonly used in English for the Arabic word قبّة, meaning “dome” or “cupola.” In architectural terms, alqubbah denotes a dome-shaped roof or ceiling that covers a structure and is a prominent feature in many religious and civic buildings.

Etymology and usage variants: The term derives from the Arabic root Q-B-B, associated with dome-like form. The feminine noun qubbah refers to the dome itself, and the definite form al-Qubba is often used in phrases meaning “the dome” or “the dome of [something],” appearing in many place names and monument titles. Transliteration varies, yielding forms such as qubba, qubbah, and al-Qubba.

Notable example: Al-Qubbat as-Sakhrah, known in English as the Dome of the Rock, is a famous Islamic shrine in Jerusalem. Its Arabic name translates to “the Dome of the Rock,” illustrating how the term is used in proper names to describe a domed architectural feature of significance.

Geographic and cultural usage: The concept of a dome—alqubbah—appears widely in architecture across the Arab world and beyond, influencing the naming of domed structures, mausoleums, mosques, and even certain neighborhoods or hillocks that feature domed architecture. In scholarly and travel writing, the term is used to discuss domed design, construction techniques, and its symbolic or aesthetic roles within different architectural traditions.

In summary, alqubbah refers to the dome in Arabic architectural vocabulary and appears as a component in place names and monument titles, with several transliteration variants used in English-language texts.