How do we 'build' it?
well m is م
and long aa is ا
If we put them after each other we get مـا, as the 'beginning' form of m is مـ.
Then, the next sound is 'i. 'i in the middle of a word is written with 'y' with hamza (ء). So, 'i would be ئِ and if were are going to add something to it, it's ئِـــ. As you know, we cannot connect "a" and "y".. so far we have مَـائِــ .. "maa'i".. Next we have to add "dah" to it. d in middle form is ــد so if we add it to مَـائِــ we get مَـائِـد . But that's only maa'id. The final sound is "ah" which we can get by using ta' marbouta, which is a normal h (ه) but with two dots ة.
So, what do we after all have?
maa - مَــا
'i - ئِــ
dah - ـــدَ ة
Maa'idah - مَــائِــدَ ة
Yes, it is very clear. I just did not know about the "ta' marbouta" thing before..
I just saw it joined as in this word for eg : العربية
About letter "i" in the middle of a word with hamza is new for me too.