Quranic root
أفف
ʾ · f · f
The root centers on aversion: physical dirt or stink gives rise to expressions of disgust, annoyance, contempt, and vexation.
Alongside this exclamatory and emotional field, the lexicon preserves a distinct branch denoting the time or occasion of something, as well as related derivatives for habitual vexation and hard-heartedness.
- Maqāyīs · row 112
- Mufradāt · row 42
- 1
- Quran-attested forms
- 2
- Quran senses
- 3
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أُفٌّ
ʾuffun
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 3 occurrences
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
An exclamation of disgust or aversion—“uff!”—expressing annoyance, vexation, distress, dislike, contempt, or disrespect.
Used as an utterance, including in constructions addressed to someone or something with لِـ. In the Quranic construction, it marks even the slightest verbal expression of revulsion, displeasure, or treating the addressee’s matter as burdensome.
- Lane · entry 6882
- Mufradāt · row 42
Selected Quran examples
Filth, dirt, or stink regarded with disgust or contempt.
In the Quranic admonition, the literal association with filth or stink supplies the force of the expression and its prohibition; this does not mean that every occurrence must be translated as a literal material substance.
- Lane · entry 6882
- Mufradāt · row 42
Selected Quran examples
Quran 17:23word 19
“a word of disrespect”
Quran 21:67word 1
“Uff”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
View all 3 occurrencesBroader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 11 Classical meanings
أَفَّ
To utter “uff” out of anxiety, vexation, distress, or disgust; to be angry or enraged at someone.
A Form I verb whose utterance may be directed toward a person or occasion.
- Lane · entry 6877
أُفٌّ
Dirt or filth, especially dirt of the ear, dirt around or under the nail, or a nail paring; also a small stick or reed picked up from the ground.
The same lexical item is associated with things judged dirty, filthy, or offensive.
- Lane · entry 6882
أُفٌّ
A puff or blast of breath used to blow away dust, ashes, or another annoying substance.
A concrete action underlying the exclamatory use of the word.
- Lane · entry 6882
أُفٌّ
Paucity; a small amount or scant quantity.
This is a lexical sense of the nominal form, distinct from its exclamatory use.
- Lane · entry 6882
أُفَّةٌ
A dirty, filthy, or unclean man.
An adjectival or nominal designation derived from the association with dirt.
- Lane · entry 6885
أُفَّةٌ
A poor or needy person, possessing little.
Derived from the sense of paucity or small quantity.
- Lane · entry 6885
أَفَفٌ
Vexation, distress of mind, or disgust.
A verbal noun or abstract noun for the emotional state expressed by saying أُفٌّ.
- Lane · entry 6887
أُفَّةٌ
A coward; one who holds back from fighting through disgust, and hence a heavy or sluggish person.
The fighting-related construction describes withdrawal or reluctance attributed to disgust; it is not a Quranic sense of أُفٌّ.
- Lane · entry 6885
- Lane · entry 6900
أَفَّافٌ
One who says أُفٌّ frequently or continually.
A habitual-agent designation formed from repeated utterance of the exclamation.
- Lane · entry 6894
إِفَّانٌ
A time, period, or occasion.
Used in expressions meaning “at the time of that” or “at that occasion.”
- Lane · entry 6895
اليَأْفُوفُ
Hard-hearted or unfeeling.
A related classical derivative associated with the root’s aversion-based semantic field.
- Maqāyīs · row 112
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
Lane records many vocalic and orthographic variants of أُفٌّ; they are consolidated under one normalized public headword.
Lane's printed Quran citation is not used to generate a modern verse location; the examples here use independently supplied QAC locations.