هفا

Root entry · 22 derived lemmas

This root primarily concerns rapid, light movement, often through the air or on the ground. It extends to concepts of loss, error, and even hunger, reflecting a sense of being adrift or unsteady.

Derived headwords

هَفَاverb

1.
to move quicklyboth
To move with speed and lightness, especially in walking or running.
2.
to flyboth
To move through the air, like a bird or a light object.
3.
to blowboth
Used for wind when it blows or moves.
4.
to errboth
To make a mistake or slip.
5.
to go astrayclassical
To be lost or go missing, referring to animals.

هفا في المشي هفوا وهفوانا: أسرع وخف فيه — He moved quickly and lightly in his walk.

وهفا الظبي يهفو على وجه الأرض هفوا: خف واشتد عدوه — The gazelle moved swiftly and intensely across the face of the earth.

وهفا الطائر إذا طار — And the bird flies.

والريح إذا هبت — And the wind if it blows.

وقد هفا يهفو هفوا وهفوة — And he erred, making a mistake or slip.

هَفْوًاnoun

1.
quicknessboth
The state of moving quickly and lightly.
2.
flightboth
The act of flying or moving through the air.
3.
errorboth
A slip, mistake, or lapse.

هفا في المشي هفوا وهفوانا: أسرع وخف فيه — He moved quickly and lightly in his walk.

وهفا الظبي يهفو على وجه الأرض هفوا: خف واشتد عدوه — The gazelle moved swiftly and intensely across the face of the earth.

هَفْوَانًاnoun

1.
quicknessboth
The state of moving quickly and lightly.

هفا في المشي هفوا وهفوانا: أسرع وخف فيه — He moved quickly and lightly in his walk.

هَوَافِيnoun

1.
lost camelsclassical
Lost or stray camels.

وهوافي الإبل: ضوالها كهواميها — And the lost camels of camels: their strays, like their lost ones.

أنه ولى أبا غاضرة الهوافي أي الإبل الضوال — That he appointed Abu Ghadirah over the lost camels, meaning the stray camels.

هَافِيَةnoun

1.
lost camelclassical
A single lost or stray camel.
2.
something that goesclassical
Something that goes or moves away.

واحدتها هافية من هفا الشيء يهفو إذا ذهب — Its singular is 'haafiyah' from 'hawaa'a shay'un yahfoo' if it goes away.

هَفْوَةnoun

1.
slipboth
A mistake, error, or lapse in judgment or action.
2.
fallboth
A stumble or fall.

والهفوة: السقطة والزلة — And 'al-hafwah': the fall and the slip.

وقد هفا يهفو هفوا وهفوة — And he erred, making a mistake or slip.

الهَفْوnoun

1.
going in the airclassical
The act of moving or floating in the air.
2.
hungerclassical
A state of hunger.

والهفو: الذهاب في الهواء — And 'al-hafwo': going in the air.

والهفو: الجوع — And 'al-hafwo': hunger.

هَفَاverb

1.
to flutterboth
To move wings lightly and rapidly, or to flutter.

وهفا الطائر بجناحيه أي خفق وطار — And the bird fluttered its wings, meaning it flapped and flew.

الهَفَاءnoun

1.
flutteringclassical
The act of fluttering or moving lightly.
2.
light rainclassical
A light, drizzling rain.

أبعد انتهاء القلب بعد هفائه — After the heart's end, after its fluttering?

بشتوة ذات هفاء وديم — With a cold night of light rain and continuous drizzle.

هَفَّاءnoun

1.
light rainclassical
A type of light rain, similar to 'rahmah'.

الهفاءة، وجمعها الهفاء، نحو من الرهمة — 'Al-haffaa'ah', and its plural is 'al-haffaa', similar to 'ar-rahmah'.

مَهْفَىnoun

1.
place where wind blowsclassical
A place where the wind blows, especially in open areas.

إلى منابت الشيح ومهافي الريح — To the places where wormwood grows and where the wind blows.

هَافٍadjective

1.
hungryclassical
Experiencing hunger.

ورجل هاف: جائع — And a man 'haaf': hungry.

وفلان جائع يهفو فؤاده أي يخفق — And so-and-so is hungry, his heart fluttering, meaning it beats rapidly.

هَفَاةnoun

1.
foolish personclassical
A foolish or simple-minded man.

ورجل هفاة: أحمق — And a man 'hafah': foolish.

الأَهْفَاءnoun

1.
foolish peopleclassical
Foolish or simple-minded people.

والأهفاء: الحمقى من الناس — And 'al-ahfaa': the foolish among people.

هَفَاءَةnoun

1.
light rainclassical
A type of light rain, similar to 'rahmah'.
2.
cloud formationclassical
A formation of clouds that obscures the sky.

الهفاءة خلقة تقدم الصبير، ليست من الغيم في شيء غير أنها تستر عنك الصبير — 'Al-haffaa'ah' is a formation that precedes the 'sabir', it is not of the clouds in any way except that it obscures the 'sabir' from you.

الهفاءة، وجمعها الهفاء، نحو من الرهمة — 'Al-haffaa'ah', and its plural is 'al-haffaa', similar to 'ar-rahmah'.

أَفَاءnoun

1.
cloud formationclassical
A formation of clouds, like 'haffaa'ah'.

الأفاء القطع من الغيم، وهي الفرق يجئن قطعا كما هي — 'Al-afaa' are pieces of clouds, they are groups that come in pieces as they are.

أَفَاءَةnoun

1.
cloud formationclassical
A formation of clouds, like 'haffaa'ah'.

الواحدها أفاءة، ويقال هفاءة أيضا — Its singular is 'afaa'ah', and 'haffaa'ah' is also said.

أفأي وأفاءة؛ النضر: هي الهفاءة والأفاءة والسد والسماحيق والجلب والجلب — 'Afay' and 'afaa'ah'; Al-Nadr: it is 'al-haffaa'ah' and 'al-afaa'ah' and 'as-sad' and 'as-samaahiq' and 'al-jalab' and 'al-jalab'.

هَفْوَةnoun

1.
errorclassical
A mistake or lapse, particularly in judgment or decision.

والهفاء من الغلط والزلل مثله — And 'al-hafaa' from error and slips is similar to it.

هَفَتْverb

1.
to appear suddenlyclassical
To appear or arrive suddenly, especially unexpectedly.

وهفت هافية من الناس: طرأت — And a 'haafiyah' of people appeared: they arrived suddenly.

هَافِيَةnoun

1.
sudden arrivalclassical
A sudden or unexpected appearance or arrival.

وهفت هافية من الناس: طرأت — And a 'haafiyah' of people appeared: they arrived suddenly.

هَفْوَةnoun

1.
light thingclassical
A light or trivial matter.

والهفوة: المر الخفيف — And 'al-hafwah': the light thing.

هَفَاةnoun

1.
glanceclassical
A look or glance.

والهفاة: النظرة — And 'al-hafaah': the glance.

Parallel reading

هفا في المشي هفوا وهفوانا: أسرع وخف فيه، قالها في الذي يهفو بين السماء والأرض.

He moved quickly and lightly in his walk, and this was said about one who is suspended between sky and earth.

وهفا الظبي يهفو على وجه الأرض هفوا: خف واشتد عدوه.

And the gazelle moved swiftly and intensely across the face of the earth.

ومر الظبي يهفو: مثل قولك يطفو؛ قال بشر يصف فرسا: يشبه شخصها، والخيل تهفو ... هفوا، ظل فتخاء الجناح

And the gazelle passed by, moving lightly: like your saying 'yatfoo'; Bishr said, describing a mare: Her form resembles it, and the horses move lightly... swiftly, like a bird with wide wings.

وهوافي الإبل: ضوالها كهواميها.

And the lost camels of camels: their strays, like their lost ones.

وروي أن الجارود سأل النبي، صلى الله عليه وسلم، عن هوافي الابل ، وقال قوم هوامي الإبل؛ واحدتها هافية من هفا الشيء يهفو إذا ذهب.

And it was narrated that Al-Jarood asked the Prophet, peace be upon him, about the lost camels, and some said 'hawami' al-ibil; its singular is 'haafiyah' from 'hawaa'a shay'un yahfoo' if it goes away.

وهفا الطائر إذا طار، والريح إذا هبت.

And the bird flies if it flies, and the wind if it blows.

وفي حديث عثمان، رضي الله عنه: أنه ولى أبا غاضرة الهوافي أي الإبل الضوال.

And in the narration of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him: that he appointed Abu Ghadirah over the lost camels, meaning the stray camels.

ويقال للظليم إذا عدا: قد هفا، ويقال الألف اللينة هافية في الهواء.

And it is said of the ostrich when it runs: it has 'hafaa', and the soft alif is said to be 'haafiyah' in the air.

وهفا الطائر بجناحيه أي خفق وطار؛ قال: وهو إذا الحرب هفا عقابه، ... مرجم حرب تلتظي حرابه

And the bird fluttered its wings, meaning it flapped and flew; he said: And when war comes, its eagle flies, ... a battlefield whose spears blaze.

أبعد انتهاء القلب بعد هفائه، ... يروح علينا حب ليلى ويغتدي؟

After the heart's end, after its fluttering, ... does the love of Layla come and go upon us?

أولئك ما أبقين لي من مروءتي ... هفاء، ولا ألبسنني ثوب لاعب

Those have left me no honor... nor have they clothed me in the garment of a player.

سائلة الأصداغ يهفو طاقها

Her temples are moist, her garment flutters.

يا رب فرق بيننا، يا ذا النعم، ... بشتوة ذات هفاء وديم

O Lord, separate us, O Granter of Favors, ... with a cold night of light rain and continuous drizzle.

والهفوة: السقطة والزلة. وقد هفا يهفو هفوا وهفوة.

And 'al-hafwah': the fall and the slip. And he erred, making a mistake or slip.

وهفت الصوفة في الهواء تهفو هفوا وهفوا: ذهبت، وكذلك الثوب.

And the wool floated in the air, moving lightly, going, and so did the garment.

ورفارف الفسطاط إذا حركته الريح قلت: يهفو وتهفو به الريح، وهفت به الريح: حركته وذهبت به.

And the flaps of the tent, if the wind moves them, you say: they flutter and the wind makes them flutter, and the wind moved it: it moved it and carried it away.

وفي حديث علي، رضوان الله عليه: إلى منابت الشيح ومهافي الريح ؛ جمع مهفى وهو موضع هبوبها في البراري.

And in the narration of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him: to the places where wormwood grows and where the wind blows; the plural of 'mahfaa' which is the place of its blowing in the wilderness.

وفي حديث معاوية: تهفو منه الريح بجانب كأنه جناح نسر ، يعني بيتا تهب من جانبه الريح، وهو في صغره كجناح نسر.

And in the narration of Mu'awiyah: the wind blows from its side like a vulture's wing, meaning a tent from which the wind blows on its side, and it is small like a vulture's wing.

أبو سعيد: الهفاءة خلقة تقدم الصبير، ليست من الغيم في شيء غير أنها تستر عنك الصبير، فإذا جاوزت بذلك الصبير «1»، وهو أعناق الغمام الساطعة في الأفق، ثم يردف الصبير الحبي، وهو ما استكف منه، وهو رحا السحابة، ثم الرباب تحت الحبي، وهو الذي يقدم الماء، ثم روادفه بعد ذلك؛ وأنشد:

Abu Saeed said: 'Al-haffaa'ah' is a formation that precedes the 'sabir', it is not of the clouds in any way except that it obscures the 'sabir' from you, and when you pass that 'sabir', which is the streaks of clouds shining on the horizon, then the 'sabir' is followed by the 'habbi', which is what is gathered from it, and it is the millstone of the cloud, then the 'rubab' beneath the 'habbi', which is what brings the water, then its followers after that; and he recited:

النضر: الأفاء القطع من الغيم، وهي الفرق يجئن قطعا كما هي، قال أبو منصور: الواحدة أفاءة، ويقال هفاءة أيضا.

Al-Nadr said: 'Al-afaa' are pieces of clouds, they are groups that come in pieces as they are, Abu Mansur said: its singular is 'afaa'ah', and 'haffaa'ah' is also said.

والهفا، مقصور: مطر يمطر ثم يكف.

And 'al-hafaa', short form: rain that falls and then stops.

أبو زيد: الهفاءة، وجمعها الهفاء، نحو من الرهمة.

Abu Zayd said: 'Al-haffaa'ah', and its plural is 'al-haffaa', similar to 'ar-rahmah'.

العنبري: أفاء وأفاءة؛ النضر: هي الهفاءة والأفاءة والسد والسماحيق والجلب والجلب.

Al-Anbari said: 'Afay' and 'afaa'ah'; Al-Nadr said: it is 'al-haffaa'ah' and 'al-afaa'ah' and 'as-sad' and 'as-samaahiq' and 'al-jalab' and 'al-jalab'.

غيره: أفاء وأفاءة كأنه أبدل من الهاء همزة، قال: والهفاء من الغلط والزلل مثله؛ قال أعرابي خير امرأته فاختارت نفسها فندم:

Others said: 'Afay' and 'afaa'ah' as if the 'haa' was replaced by a hamza, he said: And 'al-hafaa' from error and slips is similar to it; an Arab said when he gave his wife a choice and she chose herself, he regretted it:

إلى الله أشكو أن ميا تحملت ... بعقلي مظلوما، ووليتها الأمرا هفاء من الأمر الدني، ولم أرد ... بها الغدر يوما، فاستجازت بي الغدرا

To God I complain that Mayya has taken... my mind unjustly, and I entrusted her with the affair, a lapse in worldly matters, and I never intended... betrayal from her, so she dared to betray me.

وهفت هافية من الناس: طرأت، وقيل: طرأت عن جدب، والمعروف هفت هافة.

And a 'haafiyah' of people appeared: they arrived suddenly, and it was said: they arrived suddenly from drought, and what is known is 'hafat haaffah'.

ورجل هفاة: أحمق.

And a man 'hafah': foolish.

والأهفاء: الحمقى من الناس.

And 'al-ahfaa': the foolish among people.

والهفو: الجوع. ورجل هاف: جائع.

And 'al-hafwo': hunger. And a man 'haaf': hungry.

وفلان جائع يهفو فؤاده أي يخفق.

And so-and-so is hungry, his heart fluttering, meaning it beats rapidly.

والهفوة: المر الخفيف.

And 'al-hafwah': the light thing.

والهفاة: النظرة

And 'al-hafaah': the glance.