ن خ ف

Root entry · 7 derived lemmas

This root primarily relates to sounds and actions associated with the nose and breath, including sneezing, snorting, and nasal sounds. It also extends to meanings of lightness, thinness, and even sexual intercourse.

Derived headwords

نَخَفَverb

1.
to sneezeboth
To expel air and saliva forcibly from the nose and mouth, especially as a result of irritation in the nasal passages.
2.
to snortclassical
To make a sound by forcing air out through the nose, often when amused or contemptuous.

نَخْفnoun

1.
sneezeclassical
The act or sound of sneezing.
2.
snortclassical
A sound made by forcing air through the nose.
3.
nasal soundclassical
A sound produced through the nose, similar to a nasal intonation.
4.
sexual intercourseclassical
The act of sexual union.

نَخْفَةnoun

1.
depression in a mountainclassical
A hollow or depression found at the summit of a mountain.

نَخِيفadjective

1.
nasalclassical
Relating to or produced by the nose; having a nasal quality.

نُخَافnoun

1.
light sandalsclassical
A type of light footwear, possibly sandals.

أَنْخُفَةnoun

1.
patched sandalsclassical
A plural form referring to sandals that have been mended or patched.

أَنْخَفَverb

1.
to have a loud nasal soundclassical
To produce a loud and distinct sound from the nose, often due to illness or emotion.

Parallel reading

نخفت العنز، كمنع ونصر

The goat sneezed, like 'man'a' and 'nasara'.

وقال ابن دريد: نفخت فهو مقلوب منه

And Ibn Duraid said: 'Nafakha' (to blow) is an inversion of it.

قيل: نحو نفخ الهرة.

It is said: like the blowing of a cat.

أو النخف: شبيه بالعطاس.

Or 'an-nakhf': similar to sneezing.

أو هو: صوت الأنف إذا مخط عن ابن الأعرابي.

Or it is: the sound of the nose when blown, according to Ibn al-A'rabi.

أو هو: النفس العالي.

Or it is: the high-pitched breath.

والنخيف، كأمير: مثل الخنين من الأنف.

And 'an-nakhif', like 'ameer': similar to the nasal sound from the nose.

وقال ابن الأعرابي: النخاف ككتاب: الخف، ج: أنخفة

And Ibn al-A'rabi said: 'An-nukhaf', like 'kitaab': the light sandal, pl. 'ankhafah'.

ومنه قول الأعرابي: جاء فلان في نخافين ملكمين

And from it is the saying of the Bedouin: So-and-so came in patched sandals.

قال الأزهري: أي في خفين مرقعين.

Al-Azhari said: Meaning in mended sandals.

والنخفة بالفتح: وهدة في رأس الجبل نقله الصاغاني.

And 'an-nakhfah' with the fatha: a hollow in the mountain's summit, as reported by al-Saghani.

وقال ابن الأعرابي: أنخف الرجل: كثر صوت نخيفه.

And Ibn al-A'rabi said: 'Ankhafa' the man: his nasal sound became loud.

ومما يستدرك عليه: النخف: النكاح.

And among what is added: 'An-nakhf': sexual intercourse.

قال ابن دريد: وقد سمت العرب نخفا بنخف الدابة.

Ibn Duraid said: And the Arabs named a male camel 'Nakhf' after the mating sound of the animal.