Quranic root
هون
h · w · n
The root centers on stillness, quiet composure, and a related condition of lowliness or abasement.
Its lexical branches extend toward tranquil and gentle manner, low status and humiliation, and what is easy or lightly estimated. Derived forms express making something easy or bringing someone low.
- Maqāyīs · row 4970
- Lane · entry 17187
- Lane · entry 17188
- Lane · entry 17189
- 7
- Quran-attested forms
- 8
- Quran senses
- 26
- Quran occurrences
Forms in the Quran
The forms this root actually takes in the Quran. Select one to jump to its senses and examples.
أَهَانَ
ʾahāna
- Part of speech
- Verb · Form IV
- Form
- IV
- Quran occurrences
- 2 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.
To lower, abase, or humiliate; to render someone abject or ignominious.
A transitive causative use: the object is brought into a disgraced or degraded condition.
- Lane · entry 17189
Selected Quran examples
Quran 89:16word 10
“(has) humiliated me”
Quran 22:18word 27
“Allah humiliates”
أَهْوَن
ʾahwan
- Part of speech
- Comparative adjective
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Easier; less difficult or burdensome.
A comparative form used to indicate that one matter is easier than another.
- Lane · entry 17195
- Lane · entry 17192
Selected Quran examples
Quran 30:27word 8
“(is) easier”
هَوْن
hawn
- Part of speech
- Noun
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Quiet composure and gentleness; a tranquil, dignified manner.
Used adverbially in the accusative to describe the manner of walking, emphasizing calm and composed conduct rather than humiliation.
- Lane · entry 17187
- Maqāyīs · row 4970
Selected Quran examples
Quran 25:63word 7
“(in) humbleness”
هَيِّن
hayyin
- Part of speech
- Adjective
- 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.
Easy; not difficult or burdensome.
Describes an action, event, or outcome as easy for the person concerned.
- Lane · entry 17192
Selected Quran examples
Quran 19:21word 7
“easy”
Lightly regarded; insignificant or of little account.
Describes something treated as paltry, contemptible, or too slight to merit serious estimation.
- Lane · entry 17192
Selected Quran examples
Quran 24:15word 12
“(was) insignificant”
هُون
hūn
- Part of speech
- Noun / adjective
- Quran occurrences
- 4 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.
Humiliation, abasement, or disgrace; a condition of being held low or treated as contemptible.
Used of a degrading condition or humiliating punishment; this is distinct from هَوْن, the calm manner noun in 25:63.
- Lane · entry 17187
Selected Quran examples
Quran 16:59word 11
“humiliation”
Quran 41:17word 11
“humiliating”
مُهَان
muhān
- Part of speech
- Passive participle
- Quran occurrences
- 1 occurrence
Selected examples are shown with the sense they illustrate — chosen to teach that sense, not the complete list of this form’s Quran occurrences.
Abased or humiliated; held in low estimation or treated as abject.
A passive participle describing someone or something brought into a degraded or contemptible condition.
- Lane · entry 17196
- Lane · entry 17189
Selected Quran examples
Quran 25:69word 8
“humiliated”
مُهِين
muhīn
- Part of speech
- Active participle
- Quran occurrences
- 14 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.
Humiliating; causing someone to be lowered, abased, or rendered abject.
An active participle describing a person, punishment, or condition that produces humiliation or disgrace.
- Lane · entry 17189
Selected Quran examples
Quran 22:57word 8
“humiliating”
Quran 44:30word 7
“the humiliating”
Occurrences in the Quran
Every place this root appears, in Quran order. The first few are shown here.
- 2:90مُّهِينٌۭhumiliating
- 3:178مُّهِينٌۭhumiliating
- 4:14مُّهِينٌۭhumiliating
- 4:37مُّهِينًۭاhumiliating
- 4:102مُّهِينًۭاhumiliating
Broader Classical Arabic meanings
Recorded for this root in the Classical lexicons beyond its Quran usage. These are secondary to the Quran senses above.
Show 6 Classical meanings
هَانَ
To be or become low, base, vile, abject, mean, paltry, contemptible, or weak.
Classical Form I verb; the description includes both low social or moral estimation and weakness.
- Lane · entry 17187
هَوَانٌ
Lowliness, abasement, or weakness.
A verbal noun associated with هَانَ, distinct in form from the Quranic هُون.
- Lane · entry 17187
هَانَ
To be easy, light, or gentle; to be lightly estimated by someone.
With عَلَيْهِ, a thing is easy or light to someone; the verb may also describe something as gentle or easy in itself.
- Lane · entry 17187
هَوَّنَ
To make a matter easy or light for someone; to make light of it.
A Form II causative construction, commonly used with عَلَيْهِ or with an object that is to be regarded lightly.
- Lane · entry 17188
أَهَانَ
To hold someone or something in little or mean estimation; to despise or make light of it.
This is the contempt or slight-estimation branch of the Form IV verb, separate from actively lowering or humiliating someone.
- Lane · entry 17189
عَلَى هِيْنَتِكَ
At one's ease; in an unhurried or comfortable state.
A conventional phrase rather than an independent Quranic form.
- Lane · entry 17193
Cautions
Points that affect how this root should be read.
The supplied Lane Form IV entry displays the anomalous headword أَهَاهَهُ but explicitly gives أَهَانَهُ in its text; the public citation form follows the QAC identity أَهَانَ.
هَوْن and هُون are kept distinct: the supplied Quranic evidence supports هَوْن as quiet, composed manner and هُون as humiliation or abasement.