What it does
Kadma is a conjunctive trope, the servant that leads into Geresh. The pair is known as Kadma V'Azla (an older name for Geresh is Azla). Kadma also appears in longer phrase patterns like Telisha-Kadma-Azla.
Where it appears
Common across the Torah. Kadma is one of the most-encountered conjunctives, often serving Geresh or appearing in longer phrase sequences.
How to remember it
Kadma means "before" or "preceding." The mark precedes (comes before) the Geresh it serves. Visually, Kadma is a diagonal slash above the letter, the same visual shape as Pashta. The distinguishing rule: Kadma can sit above any letter; Pashta only sits above the last letter of a word.
Example from the Torah
Bereishis 22:2
In long verses like the start of the Akeida, Kadma marks appear multiple times, each leading toward a Geresh that closes its sub-phrase.
Hear the melody
A synthesized rendering of the melodic shape, not a vocal recording. For a baal koreh's voice on a full aliyah, PocketTorah is a great free resource.
Hand signal (simanim)
Often confused with
This is the single most common trope confusion. Both look identical visually. Pashta sits ONLY on the LAST letter of a word; Kadma can sit on any letter. When you see the slash above, check the letter position.
Kadma is the conjunctive that leads into Geresh. They appear together as the named phrase pattern Kadma V'Azla.