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 |