Persian prefix نا (“nâ-”) attaches to nouns, adjectives, stems, etc. and derives words that mean the opposite. Its function is similar to English “un-”, “dis-” and “in-” and its variations “im-” and “ir-”.
Word | Derivation |
---|---|
امید omid hope |
ناامید nâomid hopeless |
راحت râhat comfortable |
ناراحت nârâhat sad; uncomfortable |
راضی râzai satisfied |
ناراضی nârâzai dissatisfied |
خوشایند xošâyand pleasant |
ناخوشایند nâxošâyand unpleasant |
شنوا šenvâ able to hear |
ناشنوا nâšenvâ deaf |
بینا binâ able to see |
نابینا nâbinâ blind |
مناسب monâseb proper |
نامناسب nâmonâseb improper |
توان tavân present stem of tavânestan (can, be able to) |
ناتوان nâtavân unable; disabled |
دان dân present stem of dânestan (to know) |
نادان nâdân ignorant; foolish |
The prefix نا precedes other prefixes. For example, the derivations of the prefix هم (ham-):
Word | Derivation |
---|---|
هماهنگ hamâhang harmonious, harmonic |
ناهماهنگ nâhamâhang unharmonious, disharmonic |
Deriving nouns and adjectives
With the aid of suffix ی (-i), it is possible to derive nouns and adjectives from the words made with نا.
Derivation | Meaning |
---|---|
ناامیدی nâomidi |
hopelessness, despair |
نادانی nâdâni |
ignorance; foolishness |
ناهماهنگی nâhamâhangi |
disharmony |
ناراحتی nârâhati |
sadness |
Deriving verbs
We can derive compound verbs from the words made with نا using verbs like کردن (kardan) and شدن (šodan).
Derivation | Meaning |
---|---|
ناامید کردن nâomid kardan |
to disappoint |
ناامید شدن nâomid šodan |
to despair |
ناراحت کردن nârâhat kardan |
to sadden, make sad |
ناراحت شدن nârâhat šodan |
to become sad |