زنهار

Persian

Etymology

From Middle Persian [script needed] (zynhʾl /⁠zēnhār⁠/), originally an imperative command of 𐭬𐭭 (MN /⁠az⁠/, “from, of”, modern از) + 𐭦𐭭𐭤 (ZNH /⁠ēn⁠/, “this”, modern این) + Proto-Iranian *hār- (“to guard; to observe”, from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to warn”)): "guard against this; beware of this", but used as a noun already in Middle Persian with the current meanings.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [zin.ˈhɑːɾ]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [zɪn.hɑ́ːɾ]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [zɪn.hɑ́ːɾ]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [zɪ.nɑ́ːɾ]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [zi.nɔ́ːɾ]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [zen.hɒ́ːɹ]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [zin.hɔ́ɾ]

Readings
Classical reading?	zinhār
Dari reading?	zinhār
Iranian reading?	zenhâr
Tajik reading?	zinhor

Interjection

زنهار • (zenhâr) (literary)

1. beware
2. be careful; take care
   • c. 1390, Shams-ud-Dīn Muḥammad Ḥāfiẓ, “Ghazal 11”, in دیوان حافظ [The Divān of Ḥāfiẓ]‎^[1]:

     ای باد اگر به گلشن احباب بگذری
     زنهار عرضه ده بر جانان پیام ما

     ay bâd agar ba gulšan-i ahbâb bigzarî
     zinhâr arza dih bar-i jânân payâm-i mâ

     O breeze, should you pass by the rose-field of the lovers,
     Take care to give my message to the bosom of my love.

     (Classical Persian transliteration)

Noun

زنهار • (zenhâr) (literary)

1. caution
2. security; refuge; shelter (from something unpleasant)

   Synonyms: امان (amân), پناه (panâh)

3. covenant

   Synonym: عهد ('ahd)

Descendants

• → Ottoman Turkish: زنهار (zinhâr)
  • Turkish: zinhar (“absolutely, exactly”)