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See also: خرف, خرق, حرق, and خ ر ق

Arabic

Etymology 1.1

Root
ح ر ف (ḥ r f)
13 terms

Cognate to Aramaic חָרַף (ḥarap, to scrape, sharpen, to grind), Classical Syriac ܚܪܰܦ (ḥrap̄, to blend, to scrape together), Classical Syriac ܚܰܪܦܐ (ḥarp̄a, blade, sword), Ge'ez ሐረፈ (ḥäräfä, to crush, to grind, to tear off the top).

Pronunciation

Verb

حَرَفَ (ḥarafa) I (non-past يَحْرِفُ (yaḥrifu), verbal noun حَرْف (ḥarf))

  1. to turn to the opposite side
  2. to trade, to do business
  3. to trim, to snip
Conjugation
Conjugation of حَرَفَ (I, sound, a ~ i, full passive (?), verbal noun حَرْف)
verbal noun
الْمَصْدَر
حَرْف
ḥarf
active participle
اِسْم الْفَاعِل
حَارِف
ḥārif
passive participle
اِسْم الْمَفْعُول
مَحْرُوف
maḥrūf
active voice
الْفِعْل الْمَعْلُوم
singular
الْمُفْرَد
dual
الْمُثَنَّى
plural
الْجَمْع
1st person
الْمُتَكَلِّم
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
1st person
الْمُتَكَلِّم
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative
الْمَاضِي
m حَرَفْتُ
ḥaraftu
حَرَفْتَ
ḥarafta
حَرَفَ
ḥarafa
حَرَفْتُمَا
ḥaraftumā
حَرَفَا
ḥarafā
حَرَفْنَا
ḥarafnā
حَرَفْتُمْ
ḥaraftum
حَرَفُوا
ḥarafū
f حَرَفْتِ
ḥarafti
حَرَفَتْ
ḥarafat
حَرَفَتَا
ḥarafatā
حَرَفْتُنَّ
ḥaraftunna
حَرَفْنَ
ḥarafna
non-past (imperfect) indicative
الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع
m أَحْرِفُ
ʔaḥrifu
تَحْرِفُ
taḥrifu
يَحْرِفُ
yaḥrifu
تَحْرِفَانِ
taḥrifāni
يَحْرِفَانِ
yaḥrifāni
نَحْرِفُ
naḥrifu
تَحْرِفُونَ
taḥrifūna
يَحْرِفُونَ
yaḥrifūna
f تَحْرِفِينَ
taḥrifīna
تَحْرِفُ
taḥrifu
تَحْرِفَانِ
taḥrifāni
تَحْرِفْنَ
taḥrifna
يَحْرِفْنَ
yaḥrifna
subjunctive
الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب
m أَحْرِفَ
ʔaḥrifa
تَحْرِفَ
taḥrifa
يَحْرِفَ
yaḥrifa
تَحْرِفَا
taḥrifā
يَحْرِفَا
yaḥrifā
نَحْرِفَ
naḥrifa
تَحْرِفُوا
taḥrifū
يَحْرِفُوا
yaḥrifū
f تَحْرِفِي
taḥrifī
تَحْرِفَ
taḥrifa
تَحْرِفَا
taḥrifā
تَحْرِفْنَ
taḥrifna
يَحْرِفْنَ
yaḥrifna
jussive
الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم
m أَحْرِفْ
ʔaḥrif
تَحْرِفْ
taḥrif
يَحْرِفْ
yaḥrif
تَحْرِفَا
taḥrifā
يَحْرِفَا
yaḥrifā
نَحْرِفْ
naḥrif
تَحْرِفُوا
taḥrifū
يَحْرِفُوا
yaḥrifū
f تَحْرِفِي
taḥrifī
تَحْرِفْ
taḥrif
تَحْرِفَا
taḥrifā
تَحْرِفْنَ
taḥrifna
يَحْرِفْنَ
yaḥrifna
imperative
الْأَمْر
m اِحْرِفْ
iḥrif
اِحْرِفَا
iḥrifā
اِحْرِفُوا
iḥrifū
f اِحْرِفِي
iḥrifī
اِحْرِفْنَ
iḥrifna
passive voice
الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول
singular
الْمُفْرَد
dual
الْمُثَنَّى
plural
الْجَمْع
1st person
الْمُتَكَلِّم
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
1st person
الْمُتَكَلِّم
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative
الْمَاضِي
m حُرِفْتُ
ḥuriftu
حُرِفْتَ
ḥurifta
حُرِفَ
ḥurifa
حُرِفْتُمَا
ḥuriftumā
حُرِفَا
ḥurifā
حُرِفْنَا
ḥurifnā
حُرِفْتُمْ
ḥuriftum
حُرِفُوا
ḥurifū
f حُرِفْتِ
ḥurifti
حُرِفَتْ
ḥurifat
حُرِفَتَا
ḥurifatā
حُرِفْتُنَّ
ḥuriftunna
حُرِفْنَ
ḥurifna
non-past (imperfect) indicative
الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع
m أُحْرَفُ
ʔuḥrafu
تُحْرَفُ
tuḥrafu
يُحْرَفُ
yuḥrafu
تُحْرَفَانِ
tuḥrafāni
يُحْرَفَانِ
yuḥrafāni
نُحْرَفُ
nuḥrafu
تُحْرَفُونَ
tuḥrafūna
يُحْرَفُونَ
yuḥrafūna
f تُحْرَفِينَ
tuḥrafīna
تُحْرَفُ
tuḥrafu
تُحْرَفَانِ
tuḥrafāni
تُحْرَفْنَ
tuḥrafna
يُحْرَفْنَ
yuḥrafna
subjunctive
الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب
m أُحْرَفَ
ʔuḥrafa
تُحْرَفَ
tuḥrafa
يُحْرَفَ
yuḥrafa
تُحْرَفَا
tuḥrafā
يُحْرَفَا
yuḥrafā
نُحْرَفَ
nuḥrafa
تُحْرَفُوا
tuḥrafū
يُحْرَفُوا
yuḥrafū
f تُحْرَفِي
tuḥrafī
تُحْرَفَ
tuḥrafa
تُحْرَفَا
tuḥrafā
تُحْرَفْنَ
tuḥrafna
يُحْرَفْنَ
yuḥrafna
jussive
الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم
m أُحْرَفْ
ʔuḥraf
تُحْرَفْ
tuḥraf
يُحْرَفْ
yuḥraf
تُحْرَفَا
tuḥrafā
يُحْرَفَا
yuḥrafā
نُحْرَفْ
nuḥraf
تُحْرَفُوا
tuḥrafū
يُحْرَفُوا
yuḥrafū
f تُحْرَفِي
tuḥrafī
تُحْرَفْ
tuḥraf
تُحْرَفَا
tuḥrafā
تُحْرَفْنَ
tuḥrafna
يُحْرَفْنَ
yuḥrafna

Etymology 1.2

Pronunciation

Verb

حَرَّفَ (ḥarrafa) II (non-past يُحَرِّفُ (yuḥarrifu), verbal noun تَحْرِيف (taḥrīf))

  1. to slant, to incline
  2. to bend down, up, or back, to turn down, up, or back
  3. to deflect
  4. to distort, to corrupt, to falsify, to misconstrue, to pervert, to twist
    • 7th century CE, Jamīʿ at-Tirmiḏiyy, section 47:
      فَمَا جَاءُوا بِهِ عَلَى وَجْهِهِ فَهُوَ حَقٌّ وَلَكِنَّهُمْ يُحَرِّفُونَ وَيَزِيدُونَ
      famā jāʔū bihi ʕalā wajhihi fahuwa ḥaqqun walakinnahum yuḥarrifūna wayazīdūna
      Whatever they came with is right, as it is – however they distort and augment.
Conjugation
Conjugation of حَرَّفَ (II, sound, full passive, verbal noun تَحْرِيف)
verbal noun
الْمَصْدَر
تَحْرِيف
taḥrīf
active participle
اِسْم الْفَاعِل
مُحَرِّف
muḥarrif
passive participle
اِسْم الْمَفْعُول
مُحَرَّف
muḥarraf
active voice
الْفِعْل الْمَعْلُوم
singular
الْمُفْرَد
dual
الْمُثَنَّى
plural
الْجَمْع
1st person
الْمُتَكَلِّم
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
1st person
الْمُتَكَلِّم
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative
الْمَاضِي
m حَرَّفْتُ
ḥarraftu
حَرَّفْتَ
ḥarrafta
حَرَّفَ
ḥarrafa
حَرَّفْتُمَا
ḥarraftumā
حَرَّفَا
ḥarrafā
حَرَّفْنَا
ḥarrafnā
حَرَّفْتُمْ
ḥarraftum
حَرَّفُوا
ḥarrafū
f حَرَّفْتِ
ḥarrafti
حَرَّفَتْ
ḥarrafat
حَرَّفَتَا
ḥarrafatā
حَرَّفْتُنَّ
ḥarraftunna
حَرَّفْنَ
ḥarrafna
non-past (imperfect) indicative
الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع
m أُحَرِّفُ
ʔuḥarrifu
تُحَرِّفُ
tuḥarrifu
يُحَرِّفُ
yuḥarrifu
تُحَرِّفَانِ
tuḥarrifāni
يُحَرِّفَانِ
yuḥarrifāni
نُحَرِّفُ
nuḥarrifu
تُحَرِّفُونَ
tuḥarrifūna
يُحَرِّفُونَ
yuḥarrifūna
f تُحَرِّفِينَ
tuḥarrifīna
تُحَرِّفُ
tuḥarrifu
تُحَرِّفَانِ
tuḥarrifāni
تُحَرِّفْنَ
tuḥarrifna
يُحَرِّفْنَ
yuḥarrifna
subjunctive
الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب
m أُحَرِّفَ
ʔuḥarrifa
تُحَرِّفَ
tuḥarrifa
يُحَرِّفَ
yuḥarrifa
تُحَرِّفَا
tuḥarrifā
يُحَرِّفَا
yuḥarrifā
نُحَرِّفَ
nuḥarrifa
تُحَرِّفُوا
tuḥarrifū
يُحَرِّفُوا
yuḥarrifū
f تُحَرِّفِي
tuḥarrifī
تُحَرِّفَ
tuḥarrifa
تُحَرِّفَا
tuḥarrifā
تُحَرِّفْنَ
tuḥarrifna
يُحَرِّفْنَ
yuḥarrifna
jussive
الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم
m أُحَرِّفْ
ʔuḥarrif
تُحَرِّفْ
tuḥarrif
يُحَرِّفْ
yuḥarrif
تُحَرِّفَا
tuḥarrifā
يُحَرِّفَا
yuḥarrifā
نُحَرِّفْ
nuḥarrif
تُحَرِّفُوا
tuḥarrifū
يُحَرِّفُوا
yuḥarrifū
f تُحَرِّفِي
tuḥarrifī
تُحَرِّفْ
tuḥarrif
تُحَرِّفَا
tuḥarrifā
تُحَرِّفْنَ
tuḥarrifna
يُحَرِّفْنَ
yuḥarrifna
imperative
الْأَمْر
m حَرِّفْ
ḥarrif
حَرِّفَا
ḥarrifā
حَرِّفُوا
ḥarrifū
f حَرِّفِي
ḥarrifī
حَرِّفْنَ
ḥarrifna
passive voice
الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول
singular
الْمُفْرَد
dual
الْمُثَنَّى
plural
الْجَمْع
1st person
الْمُتَكَلِّم
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
1st person
الْمُتَكَلِّم
2nd person
الْمُخَاطَب
3rd person
الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative
الْمَاضِي
m حُرِّفْتُ
ḥurriftu
حُرِّفْتَ
ḥurrifta
حُرِّفَ
ḥurrifa
حُرِّفْتُمَا
ḥurriftumā
حُرِّفَا
ḥurrifā
حُرِّفْنَا
ḥurrifnā
حُرِّفْتُمْ
ḥurriftum
حُرِّفُوا
ḥurrifū
f حُرِّفْتِ
ḥurrifti
حُرِّفَتْ
ḥurrifat
حُرِّفَتَا
ḥurrifatā
حُرِّفْتُنَّ
ḥurriftunna
حُرِّفْنَ
ḥurrifna
non-past (imperfect) indicative
الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع
m أُحَرَّفُ
ʔuḥarrafu
تُحَرَّفُ
tuḥarrafu
يُحَرَّفُ
yuḥarrafu
تُحَرَّفَانِ
tuḥarrafāni
يُحَرَّفَانِ
yuḥarrafāni
نُحَرَّفُ
nuḥarrafu
تُحَرَّفُونَ
tuḥarrafūna
يُحَرَّفُونَ
yuḥarrafūna
f تُحَرَّفِينَ
tuḥarrafīna
تُحَرَّفُ
tuḥarrafu
تُحَرَّفَانِ
tuḥarrafāni
تُحَرَّفْنَ
tuḥarrafna
يُحَرَّفْنَ
yuḥarrafna
subjunctive
الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب
m أُحَرَّفَ
ʔuḥarrafa
تُحَرَّفَ
tuḥarrafa
يُحَرَّفَ
yuḥarrafa
تُحَرَّفَا
tuḥarrafā
يُحَرَّفَا
yuḥarrafā
نُحَرَّفَ
nuḥarrafa
تُحَرَّفُوا
tuḥarrafū
يُحَرَّفُوا
yuḥarrafū
f تُحَرَّفِي
tuḥarrafī
تُحَرَّفَ
tuḥarrafa
تُحَرَّفَا
tuḥarrafā
تُحَرَّفْنَ
tuḥarrafna
يُحَرَّفْنَ
yuḥarrafna
jussive
الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم
m أُحَرَّفْ
ʔuḥarraf
تُحَرَّفْ
tuḥarraf
يُحَرَّفْ
yuḥarraf
تُحَرَّفَا
tuḥarrafā
يُحَرَّفَا
yuḥarrafā
نُحَرَّفْ
nuḥarraf
تُحَرَّفُوا
tuḥarrafū
يُحَرَّفُوا
yuḥarrafū
f تُحَرَّفِي
tuḥarrafī
تُحَرَّفْ
tuḥarraf
تُحَرَّفَا
tuḥarrafā
تُحَرَّفْنَ
tuḥarrafna
يُحَرَّفْنَ
yuḥarrafna

Etymology 1.3

Pronunciation

Noun

حَرْف (ḥarfm (plural حِرَف (ḥiraf))

  1. cutting edge, sharp edge
  2. border, brink, edge, rim
Declension
Declension of noun حَرْف (ḥarf)
singular basic singular triptote
indefinite definite construct
informal حَرْف
ḥarf
الْحَرْف
al-ḥarf
حَرْف
ḥarf
nominative حَرْفٌ
ḥarfun
الْحَرْفُ
al-ḥarfu
حَرْفُ
ḥarfu
accusative حَرْفًا
ḥarfan
الْحَرْفَ
al-ḥarfa
حَرْفَ
ḥarfa
genitive حَرْفٍ
ḥarfin
الْحَرْفِ
al-ḥarfi
حَرْفِ
ḥarfi
dual indefinite definite construct
informal حَرْفَيْن
ḥarfayn
الْحَرْفَيْن
al-ḥarfayn
حَرْفَيْ
ḥarfay
nominative حَرْفَانِ
ḥarfāni
الْحَرْفَانِ
al-ḥarfāni
حَرْفَا
ḥarfā
accusative حَرْفَيْنِ
ḥarfayni
الْحَرْفَيْنِ
al-ḥarfayni
حَرْفَيْ
ḥarfay
genitive حَرْفَيْنِ
ḥarfayni
الْحَرْفَيْنِ
al-ḥarfayni
حَرْفَيْ
ḥarfay
plural basic broken plural triptote
indefinite definite construct
informal حِرَف
ḥiraf
الْحِرَف
al-ḥiraf
حِرَف
ḥiraf
nominative حِرَفٌ
ḥirafun
الْحِرَفُ
al-ḥirafu
حِرَفُ
ḥirafu
accusative حِرَفًا
ḥirafan
الْحِرَفَ
al-ḥirafa
حِرَفَ
ḥirafa
genitive حِرَفٍ
ḥirafin
الْحِرَفِ
al-ḥirafi
حِرَفِ
ḥirafi

Adjective

حَرْف (ḥarf)

  1. (obsolete, poetic, of a she-camel) hardy, strong and/or lean and/or swift
    • a. 625, الأعشى al-ʾaʿšā, edited by Geyer, Rudolf, Zwei Gedichte von Al-ʾAʿšâ (Sitzungsberichte der kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien. Philosophisch-historische Klasse; 149/6)‎, volume Mâ Bukâʾu, Wien: In Kommission bei Carl Gerold’s Sohn, published 1905, →DOI, page 102:
      وَشِمِلَّةٍ حَرْفٍ كَأَنَّ قُتُودَهَا … جَلَّلْتُهَا (var. لَبَسْتُهَا) جَوْنَ السَّرَاةِ خَفَيْدَدًا
      wašimillatin ḥarfin kaʔanna qutūdahā … jallaltuhā (var. labastuhā) jawna s-sarāti ḵafaydadan
      Some hardy she-camel the saddle-woods of which I applied like upon a black-backed ostrich
Declension
Declension of adjective حَرْف (ḥarf)
singular masculine feminine
basic singular triptote basic singular triptote
indefinite definite indefinite definite
informal حَرْف
ḥarf
الْحَرْف
al-ḥarf
حَرْف
ḥarf
الْحَرْف
al-ḥarf
nominative حَرْفٌ
ḥarfun
الْحَرْفُ
al-ḥarfu
حَرْفٌ
ḥarfun
الْحَرْفُ
al-ḥarfu
accusative حَرْفًا
ḥarfan
الْحَرْفَ
al-ḥarfa
حَرْفًا
ḥarfan
الْحَرْفَ
al-ḥarfa
genitive حَرْفٍ
ḥarfin
الْحَرْفِ
al-ḥarfi
حَرْفٍ
ḥarfin
الْحَرْفِ
al-ḥarfi
dual masculine feminine
indefinite definite indefinite definite
informal حَرْف
ḥarf
الْحَرْف
al-ḥarf
حَرْف
ḥarf
الْحَرْف
al-ḥarf
nominative حَرْفٌ
ḥarfun
الْحَرْفُ
al-ḥarfu
حَرْفٌ
ḥarfun
الْحَرْفُ
al-ḥarfu
accusative حَرْفًا
ḥarfan
الْحَرْفَ
al-ḥarfa
حَرْفًا
ḥarfan
الْحَرْفَ
al-ḥarfa
genitive حَرْفٍ
ḥarfin
الْحَرْفِ
al-ḥarfi
حَرْفٍ
ḥarfin
الْحَرْفِ
al-ḥarfi
plural masculine feminine
basic broken plural triptote basic broken plural triptote
indefinite definite indefinite definite
informal حَرْف
ḥarf
الْحَرْف
al-ḥarf
حَرْف
ḥarf
الْحَرْف
al-ḥarf
nominative حَرْفٌ
ḥarfun
الْحَرْفُ
al-ḥarfu
حَرْفٌ
ḥarfun
الْحَرْفُ
al-ḥarfu
accusative حَرْفًا
ḥarfan
الْحَرْفَ
al-ḥarfa
حَرْفًا
ḥarfan
الْحَرْفَ
al-ḥarfa
genitive حَرْفٍ
ḥarfin
الْحَرْفِ
al-ḥarfi
حَرْفٍ
ḥarfin
الْحَرْفِ
al-ḥarfi

Etymology 1.4

Verbal noun of the verb above, the result of turning the tongue or stylus or limb to the side. The meaning “word” is a semantic loan from Medieval Latin terminus, spawned in the environment of philosophy text translation (see Praetorius 1909).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ħarf/
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

حَرْف (ḥarfm (plural حُرُوف (ḥurūf) or أَحْرُف (ʔaḥruf))

  1. verbal noun of حَرَفَ (ḥarafa) (form I)
  2. letter (of the alphabet), piece of type
    حَرْفًا بِحَرْفٍḥarfan bi-ḥarfinword for word
  3. consonant
  4. (grammar) particle
  5. (obsolete) word
Declension
Declension of noun حَرْف (ḥarf)
singular basic singular triptote
indefinite definite construct
informal حَرْف
ḥarf
الْحَرْف
al-ḥarf
حَرْف
ḥarf
nominative حَرْفٌ
ḥarfun
الْحَرْفُ
al-ḥarfu
حَرْفُ
ḥarfu
accusative حَرْفًا
ḥarfan
الْحَرْفَ
al-ḥarfa
حَرْفَ
ḥarfa
genitive حَرْفٍ
ḥarfin
الْحَرْفِ
al-ḥarfi
حَرْفِ
ḥarfi
dual indefinite definite construct
informal حَرْفَيْن
ḥarfayn
الْحَرْفَيْن
al-ḥarfayn
حَرْفَيْ
ḥarfay
nominative حَرْفَانِ
ḥarfāni
الْحَرْفَانِ
al-ḥarfāni
حَرْفَا
ḥarfā
accusative حَرْفَيْنِ
ḥarfayni
الْحَرْفَيْنِ
al-ḥarfayni
حَرْفَيْ
ḥarfay
genitive حَرْفَيْنِ
ḥarfayni
الْحَرْفَيْنِ
al-ḥarfayni
حَرْفَيْ
ḥarfay
plural basic broken plural triptote
indefinite definite construct
informal حُرُوف‎; أَحْرُف
ḥurūf‎; ʔaḥruf
الْحُرُوف‎; الْأَحْرُف
al-ḥurūf‎; al-ʔaḥruf
حُرُوف‎; أَحْرُف
ḥurūf‎; ʔaḥruf
nominative حُرُوفٌ‎; أَحْرُفٌ
ḥurūfun‎; ʔaḥrufun
الْحُرُوفُ‎; الْأَحْرُفُ
al-ḥurūfu‎; al-ʔaḥrufu
حُرُوفُ‎; أَحْرُفُ
ḥurūfu‎; ʔaḥrufu
accusative حُرُوفًا‎; أَحْرُفًا
ḥurūfan‎; ʔaḥrufan
الْحُرُوفَ‎; الْأَحْرُفَ
al-ḥurūfa‎; al-ʔaḥrufa
حُرُوفَ‎; أَحْرُفَ
ḥurūfa‎; ʔaḥrufa
genitive حُرُوفٍ‎; أَحْرُفٍ
ḥurūfin‎; ʔaḥrufin
الْحُرُوفِ‎; الْأَحْرُفِ
al-ḥurūfi‎; al-ʔaḥrufi
حُرُوفِ‎; أَحْرُفِ
ḥurūfi‎; ʔaḥrufi
Derived terms
Descendants

Etymology 1.5

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

Noun

حِرَف (ḥirafpl

  1. plural of حِرْفَة (ḥirfa)
  2. plural of حَرْف (ḥarf)

Etymology 2

Arabic Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia ar

An Aramaic borrowing, Aramaic חורפה / חורפא / ࡇࡅࡓࡐࡀ / ܚܘܪܦܐ (ḥurpā, sharp edge) corresponds to the Arabic حَرْف (ḥarf, sharp edge) and acquired the transferred meanings of “pungency” and “pungent” food, which applies to cress because of its marked mustardy or radish-like, slightly pungent to peppery taste and smell, compare also the adjective likely borrowed from Aramaic into Arabic حِرِّيف (ḥirrīf, pungent); perhaps also merged Akkadian 𒄷𒌨𒁍 (ḫurpu, crop collected early, unripe produce), hence the meaning of bitter or unpleasant tasting plants, rather related to the root خ ر ف (ḵ r f).

Pronunciation

Noun

حُرْف (ḥurfm

  1. cress (Lepidium sativum, a garden vegetable)
  2. bitter-cress (Cardamine, some of which are eatable, some of medicinal use)
  3. water-cress (Nasturtium officinale, eatable and of medicinal use)
    • 1025, ابن سينا [Avicenna], القانون في الطب [Canon Medicinae]:
      قال ديسقويدس أجود ما رأينا من شجرة الحرف ما يكون بأرض بابل، وقوته شبيهة بقوة الخردل وبزر الفجل، وقيل الخردل وبزر الجرجير المجتمعين، وورقه ينقص في أفعاله عنه لرطوبته فإذا يبس قارب مشاكلته وكاد يلحقه. […] الأفعال والخواص: مسخن محلل منضج مع تليين ينشف قيح الجرب.
      Dioscurides said that the best what we have seen of the water-cress is the one on the earth of Babel, and its power is similar to that of the mustard and the seeds of the radish, and, it is said, mustard and rocket seeds can be blended with it, but its leaves fall behind the whole of the plant in their effects by reason of their moisture, but when dried, they are similar to it and almost catch up with it. Its properties: It is heatening, laxative, maturative with some laxivity and absorbs the pus in the scab.
Declension
Declension of noun حُرْف (ḥurf)
singular basic singular triptote
indefinite definite construct
informal حُرْف
ḥurf
الْحُرْف
al-ḥurf
حُرْف
ḥurf
nominative حُرْفٌ
ḥurfun
الْحُرْفُ
al-ḥurfu
حُرْفُ
ḥurfu
accusative حُرْفًا
ḥurfan
الْحُرْفَ
al-ḥurfa
حُرْفَ
ḥurfa
genitive حُرْفٍ
ḥurfin
الْحُرْفِ
al-ḥurfi
حُرْفِ
ḥurfi
Descendants

References

  • ḥrp”, in The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Project, Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College, 1986–
  • Freytag, Georg (1830), “حرف”, in Lexicon arabico-latinum praesertim ex Djeuharii Firuzabadiique et aliorum Arabum operibus adhibitis Golii quoque et aliorum libris confectum (in Latin), volume 1, Halle: C. A. Schwetschke, pages 367–368
  • Kazimirski, Albin de Biberstein (1860), “حرف”, in Dictionnaire arabe-français contenant toutes les racines de la langue arabe, leurs dérivés, tant dans l’idiome vulgaire que dans l’idiome littéral, ainsi que les dialectes d’Alger et de Maroc (in French), volume 1, Paris: Maisonneuve et Cie, pages 410–411
  • Praetorius, Franz (1909), “Ḥarfun = Terminus”, in Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, volume 63, pages 504–505
  • Praetorius, Franz (1909), “Zu Ḥarfun = Terminus”, in Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, volume 63, pages 857–858

Ottoman Turkish

Etymology

From Arabic حَرْف (ḥarf).

Noun

حرف (harf) (plural حرفلر (harfler) or حروف (huruf))

  1. letter
    • 1928 November 3, T.C. Resmî Gazete, law number 1353:
      شیمدی‌یه قادار توركجه‌یی یازمق ایچین قوللانیلان عرب حرفلری یرینه لاتین اساسندن آلنان و مربوط جدولده شكللری كوستریلن حرفلر (تورك حرفلری) عنوان و حقوقی ایله قبول لیدلمشدر.
      Şimdiye kadar Türkçeyi yazmak için kullanılan Arap harfleri yerine Latin esasından alınan ve merbut cetvelde şekilleri gösterilen harfler (Türk harfleri) unvan ve hukuku ile kabul edilmiştir.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Descendants

Further reading

Persian

Persian Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia fa

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Arabic حَرْف (ḥarf).

Pronunciation

Readings
Classical reading? harf
Dari reading? harf
Iranian reading? harf
Tajik reading? harf

Noun

Dari حرف
Iranian Persian
Tajik ҳарф

حَرْف (harf) (plural حرف‌ها, or حروف (horuf))

  1. letter
  2. speech, talk
Derived terms

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Arabic حِرَف (ḥiraf).

Pronunciation

Readings
Classical reading? hiraf
Dari reading? hiraf
Iranian reading? heraf
Tajik reading? hiraf

Noun

حِرَف (heraf)

  1. (archaic) plural of حرفه

Punjabi

Etymology

Borrowed from Classical Persian حَرْف (harf), from Arabic حَرْف (ḥarf).

Pronunciation

Noun

حَرْف (ḥarfm (Gurmukhi spelling ਹਰਫ਼)

  1. letter (of the alphabet), character
    Synonym: اکھر (akkhar)

References

Iqbal, Salah ud-Din (2002), “حرف”, in vaḍḍī panjābī lughat‎ (in Punjabi), Lahore: ʻAzīz Pablisharz

South Levantine Arabic

Etymology

From Arabic حَرْف (ḥarf).

Pronunciation

Noun

حرف (ḥarfm (plural حروف (ḥurūf))

  1. letter (of the alphabet)