Darga
דַּרְגָּ֧א֧תֽוֹלְד֧וֹת
cantillation
Sof passuk׃ paseq׀
etnakhta/atnakh֑ segol֒
shalshelet֓ zaqef qaton֔
zaqef gadol֕ tifcha/tarkha֖
rivia/ravia’֗ zarqa֘
pashta֙ yetiv֚
tevir֛ geresh/gerish֜
geresh muqdam [de]֝ gershayim/shenei gerishin֞
karnei pharah֟ telisha gedola/talsha֠
pazer (gadol)֡ atnah hafukh [de]֢
munakh/shofar holekh֣ mahapakh/shofar mehupakh֤
merkha/ma’arikh֥ merkha kefula/terei ta’amei֦
darga֧ qadma֨
telisha qetana/tarsa֩ yerah ben yomo֪
ole֫ illuy֬
dehi [de]֭ zinor֮

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

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BookNumber of appearances
Torah1091[6]
   Genesis253[6]
   Exodus221[6]
   Leviticus171[6]
   Numbers237[6]
   Deuteronomy209[6]
Nevi'im710[7]
Ketuvim637[7]

Melody

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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

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  1. ^ Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 45
  2. ^ Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 113
  3. ^ Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 168
  4. ^ Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, pages 102-03
  5. ^ Chanting the Hebrew Bible By Joshua R. Jacobson, page 111
  6. ^ a b c d e f Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 6
  7. ^ a b Concordance of the Hebrew accents in the Hebrew Bible: Concordance ..., Volume 1 By James D. Price, page 5
  8. ^ "טעמי מקרא".