nuqta

Nuqta is a term of Arabic origin meaning "dot" or "point." In many languages that borrow from Arabic, including Urdu, Persian, and Turkish, nuqta is used to refer to dots in writing, punctuation, or diacritical marks. The form nuqṭa (also transliterated nuqtah) is common in discussions of script and orthography.

Etymology and usage: The word comes from the Arabic root related to marking or puncturing, and its primary sense is a small dot. In writing systems that use the Arabic script, dots play a central role in distinguishing letters and in indicating vowels or other phonetic features. Because many letters are differentiated solely by the presence, absence, or placement of dots, the concept of nuqta is closely tied to literacy, typography, and calligraphy.

Orthographic significance: In Arabic script-based languages, nuqta describes both the internal dots that differentiate letters (for example, letters that share a basic shape but differ by dots above or below) and the punctuation marks that function as diacritics or sentence separators. In typesetting and digital encoding, dot placement and consistency affect readability and correct interpretation of the text, making nuqta a practical concern for writers, editors, and font designers.

Beyond script, the term is sometimes used more broadly to refer to punctuation marks such as the period or decimal point in Persian and Urdu typography, underscoring the dot’s role as a fundamental unit of written notation. Nuqta thus encompasses both decorative and functional dot-like marks within a shared script heritage.