ناتوان

Persian

Etymology

نا (nâ-, “without”) +‎ توان (tavân, “power”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [nɑː.tu.wɑːn]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [nɑː.t̪ʰä.wɑːn]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [nɑː.t̪ʰä.wɑːn]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [nɑː.t̪ʰä.wɑːn]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [nɔː.t̪ʰä.wɔːn]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [nɒː.t̪ʰæ.vɒːn]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [nɔ.t̪ʰä.vɔn]

Readings
Classical reading?	nātuwān
Dari reading?	nātawān
Iranian reading?	nâtavân
Tajik reading?	notavon

Adjective

ناتَوان • (nâtavân) (comparative ناتَوان‌تَر (nâtavân-tar), superlative ناتَوان‌تَرین (nâtavân-tarin))

1. feeble, powerless

   Synonym: ضعیف (za'if)

   • 1200s, Amīr Khusraw, “Ghazal 1512”, in دیوان امیرخسرو‎^[1]:

     هوس دارم از آن نرگس نگاهی، سوی من بنگر
     چو چشم ناتوان خود مرا هم ناتوان گردان

     hawas dāram az ān nargis-i nigāhī, sōy-i man bingar
     čū čašm-i nātuwān-i xwad ma-rā ham nātuwān gardān

     I long for the narcissus[-like eyes] of your [drunken] gaze! Look at me,
     And make me helpless too, like your helpless [i.e. inebriated] eyes.

     (Classical Persian transliteration)

Derived terms

• ناتوانی (nâtavâni)