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Daf

Musical Instrument
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A Persian frame drum with metal rings, used in Sufi and folk music

Detailed Definition
The daf appears in poetry as a sacred instrument of mystical ecstasy and communal prayer; its jingling resonance symbolizes the union of body and spirit, often evoking Rumi’s legacy and the rhythmic path to divine love in Persian and global lyrical traditions.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Sufi poetry, the daf’s frame drum carries the rhythm of divine ecstasy; Poets describe its rings as “stars jingling in the hand of the mystic”; The daf appears in Persian verse as the instrument of Rumi’s whirling devotion; Its skin becomes a metaphor for the heart—stretched, struck, singing; In contemporary spiritual poetry, the daf bridges prayer and percussion; Poets use the daf to explore unity—rhythm dissolving self into song.
Additional Notes
The daf is a Persian frame drum with metal rings, used in Sufi ceremonies; its jingling, resonant tones facilitate trance and devotion—ideal for poems about spiritual ascent, communal ecstasy, or the drum as a mirror of the cosmos.
Also Known As
Daf frame drum
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