"Untranslatable" Urdu word

Moderator:vijayjohn

EirikurGK
Posts:3
Joined:2019-12-18, 16:44
Real Name:Eirikur Kristjansson
Gender:male
"Untranslatable" Urdu word

Postby EirikurGK » 2019-12-18, 16:54

Hello all.

In a book of supposedly untranslatable words, the Urdu "naz" (not sure if a is long or short") is said to mean:

"The pride and assurance that comes from knowing you are loved unconditionally."

Is this accurate?

Does anyone know the source of this definition (i.e. which dictionary)?

Many thanks.

User avatar
linguoboy
Posts:25540
Joined:2009-08-25, 15:11
Real Name:Da
Location:Chicago
Country:USUnited States (United States)

Re: "Untranslatable" Urdu word

Postby linguoboy » 2019-12-18, 20:39

Platt's dictionary defines nāz (ناز) as "blandishment, coquetry, playfulness, amorous playfulness, feigned disdain; dalliance, toying; fondling, coaxing, soothing or endearing expression; — pride, conceit, consequential airs, whims; — softness, delicacy; elegance, gracefulness". So a range of meaning not found in any particular English word (thus fulfilling the definition of "untranslatable") but pretty far from the definition "pride and assurance that comes from knowing you are loved unconditionally".
"Richmond is a real scholar; Owen just learns languages because he can't bear not to know what other people are saying."--Margaret Lattimore on her two sons

EirikurGK
Posts:3
Joined:2019-12-18, 16:44
Real Name:Eirikur Kristjansson
Gender:male

Re: "Untranslatable" Urdu word

Postby EirikurGK » 2019-12-19, 22:46

Thank you for the response.

Is this dictionary a standard work?

I was fairly sure that this definition was not accurate but I'm really curious to find out where it came from.

The author of the book where it appears does not offer any references, and is not a linguist or a native speaker, so they must have had some source, whether accurate or not.

eskandar
Language Forum Moderator
Posts:3093
Joined:2006-12-15, 8:27

Re: "Untranslatable" Urdu word

Postby eskandar » 2019-12-26, 6:13

It's perhaps the most highly regarded dictionary for late 19th century Hindi/Urdu/Hindustani.

I would say the definition ِin your book is not really accurate. Naaz (ناز) is indeed a word with a lot of cultural specificity. It's a particular kind of coquetry whereby someone who is desired acts pridefully coy and forces the one who desires them to endure their cruelty. (You can tell by how awkwardly worded my description is, despite my efforts, that this is truly a difficult word to translate!)
Please correct my mistakes in any language.

Sadedfh
Posts:3
Joined:2021-06-09, 20:00
Gender:male

Re: "Untranslatable" Urdu word

Postby Sadedfh » 2021-06-09, 20:22

Listen. Naaz basically means pride that comes from the virtue of being strongly bonded with someone. For example:
Mujhe tum par naaz hai beta.

Would roughly mean:
I am proud of you son.

Usé Apne desh par naaz hai.
Would approximately mean:
He is proud of his nation/he loves his nation.

Note the second approximate translation of second sentence.

Btw I've been using this word since my the time I learnt to speak I guess.


Return to “Hindi/Urdu (हिन्दी/اُردو)”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests