ناشیرین
naşîrîn
The English word "ugly" is translated into Kurdish as ناشیرین (naşîrîn). Wiktionary also lists ناحەز (naḧez).
Meaning: displeasing to the eye, not aesthetically pleasing (adj)
Ways to say it
| Kurdish | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| ناشیرین | naşîrîn |
| ناحەز | naḧez |
In Kurdish, ناشیرین is used to describe something that is displeasing to the eye or not aesthetically pleasing.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ناشیرین is composed of the negative prefix na- and the word şîrîn (sweet), literally meaning "un-sweet".
Which one should you use?
ناحەز is more commonly used to describe things that are unpleasant, disagreeable or distasteful rather than purely physical ugliness.
How do you pronounce it?
naşîrîn
Did you know?
- Because naşîrîn literally translates to 'un-sweet', the Kurdish language conceptualizes beauty as a form of sweetness. This differs from English, where 'sweet' and 'beautiful' are usually distinct categories.
- While naşîrîn describes the aesthetic, the term naḥez is more closely tied to the sense of disgust. It is used for things that are 'distasteful', meaning it can refer to a bad smell or a bitter taste as well as an ugly sight.
- The word şîrîn is frequently used in Kurdish poetry and songs to describe a beloved, making the negative form ناشیرین a significant linguistic reversal.
Examples in context
- ئەم وێنەیە زۆر ناشیرینە.This picture is very ugly.
Example conversation
Aras and Sarya are looking at a painting in a gallery.
- ArasSarya, tu bi vê tabloyê razî yî?Sarya, are you okay with this painting?
- SaryaNa, ez difikirim ku ew pir ناشیرین e.No, I think that it is very ugly.
- ArasMin jî heman tişt hîs kir.I felt the same thing.
- SaryaBa wî yan yekî din bibînin.Let's look for another one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “ugly” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
