زلف

See also: زلق

Arabic

Etymology 1

From the root ز ل ف (z l f), a variant of the better-known س ل ف (s l f).

Verb

زَلَفَ • (zalafa) I (non-past يَزْلُفُ (yazlufu), verbal noun زَلْف (zalf) or زَلَف (zalaf) or زَلِيف (zalīf)) (archaic)

to get close, to near, to advance
- 7th century CE, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Buḵāriyy, 2:34:
  إِذَا أَسْلَمَ الْعَبْدُ فَحَسُنَ إِسْلَامُهُ يُكَفِّرُ اللّٰهُ عَنْهُ كُلَّ سَيِّئَةٍ كَانَ زَلَفَهَا
  ʔiḏā ʔaslama l-ʕabdu faḥasuna ʔislāmuhu yukaffiru llāhu ʕanhu kulla sayyiʔatin kāna zalafahā
  When someone becomes muslim sincerely then Allah remits all [sins] that he has come near.

Conjugation

Conjugation of **زَلَفَ** (I, sound, a ~ u, full passive (?), verbal nouns **زَلْف**, **زَلَف**, *زَلِيف*)

verbal noun الْمَصْدَر					زَلْف, زَلَف, زَلِيف zalf, zalaf, zalīf
active participle اِسْم الْفَاعِل					زَالِف zālif
passive participle اِسْم الْمَفْعُول					مَزْلُوف mazlūf
active voice الْفِعْل الْمَعْلُوم
		singular الْمُفْرَد			dual الْمُثَنَّى		plural الْجَمْع
		1^st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب	1^st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	زَلَفْتُ zalaftu	زَلَفْتَ zalafta	زَلَفَ zalafa	زَلَفْتُمَا zalaftumā	زَلَفَا zalafā	زَلَفْنَا zalafnā	زَلَفْتُمْ zalaftum	زَلَفُوا zalafū
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	f	زَلَفْتُ zalaftu	زَلَفْتِ zalafti	زَلَفَتْ zalafat	زَلَفْتُمَا zalaftumā	زَلَفَتَا zalafatā	زَلَفْنَا zalafnā	زَلَفْتُنَّ zalaftunna	زَلَفْنَ zalafna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أَزْلُفُ ʔazlufu	تَزْلُفُ tazlufu	يَزْلُفُ yazlufu	تَزْلُفَانِ tazlufāni	يَزْلُفَانِ yazlufāni	نَزْلُفُ nazlufu	تَزْلُفُونَ tazlufūna	يَزْلُفُونَ yazlufūna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	f	أَزْلُفُ ʔazlufu	تَزْلُفِينَ tazlufīna	تَزْلُفُ tazlufu	تَزْلُفَانِ tazlufāni	تَزْلُفَانِ tazlufāni	نَزْلُفُ nazlufu	تَزْلُفْنَ tazlufna	يَزْلُفْنَ yazlufna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أَزْلُفَ ʔazlufa	تَزْلُفَ tazlufa	يَزْلُفَ yazlufa	تَزْلُفَا tazlufā	يَزْلُفَا yazlufā	نَزْلُفَ nazlufa	تَزْلُفُوا tazlufū	يَزْلُفُوا yazlufū
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	f	أَزْلُفَ ʔazlufa	تَزْلُفِي tazlufī	تَزْلُفَ tazlufa	تَزْلُفَا tazlufā	تَزْلُفَا tazlufā	نَزْلُفَ nazlufa	تَزْلُفْنَ tazlufna	يَزْلُفْنَ yazlufna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أَزْلُفْ ʔazluf	تَزْلُفْ tazluf	يَزْلُفْ yazluf	تَزْلُفَا tazlufā	يَزْلُفَا yazlufā	نَزْلُفْ nazluf	تَزْلُفُوا tazlufū	يَزْلُفُوا yazlufū
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	f	أَزْلُفْ ʔazluf	تَزْلُفِي tazlufī	تَزْلُفْ tazluf	تَزْلُفَا tazlufā	تَزْلُفَا tazlufā	نَزْلُفْ nazluf	تَزْلُفْنَ tazlufna	يَزْلُفْنَ yazlufna
imperative الْأَمْر	m		اُزْلُفْ uzluf		اُزْلُفَا uzlufā			اُزْلُفُوا uzlufū
imperative الْأَمْر	f		اُزْلُفِي uzlufī		اُزْلُفَا uzlufā			اُزْلُفْنَ uzlufna

passive voice الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول
		singular الْمُفْرَد			dual الْمُثَنَّى		plural الْجَمْع
		1^st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب	1^st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	زُلِفْتُ zuliftu	زُلِفْتَ zulifta	زُلِفَ zulifa	زُلِفْتُمَا zuliftumā	زُلِفَا zulifā	زُلِفْنَا zulifnā	زُلِفْتُمْ zuliftum	زُلِفُوا zulifū
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	f	زُلِفْتُ zuliftu	زُلِفْتِ zulifti	زُلِفَتْ zulifat	زُلِفْتُمَا zuliftumā	زُلِفَتَا zulifatā	زُلِفْنَا zulifnā	زُلِفْتُنَّ zuliftunna	زُلِفْنَ zulifna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أُزْلَفُ ʔuzlafu	تُزْلَفُ tuzlafu	يُزْلَفُ yuzlafu	تُزْلَفَانِ tuzlafāni	يُزْلَفَانِ yuzlafāni	نُزْلَفُ nuzlafu	تُزْلَفُونَ tuzlafūna	يُزْلَفُونَ yuzlafūna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	f	أُزْلَفُ ʔuzlafu	تُزْلَفِينَ tuzlafīna	تُزْلَفُ tuzlafu	تُزْلَفَانِ tuzlafāni	تُزْلَفَانِ tuzlafāni	نُزْلَفُ nuzlafu	تُزْلَفْنَ tuzlafna	يُزْلَفْنَ yuzlafna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُزْلَفَ ʔuzlafa	تُزْلَفَ tuzlafa	يُزْلَفَ yuzlafa	تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā	يُزْلَفَا yuzlafā	نُزْلَفَ nuzlafa	تُزْلَفُوا tuzlafū	يُزْلَفُوا yuzlafū
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	f	أُزْلَفَ ʔuzlafa	تُزْلَفِي tuzlafī	تُزْلَفَ tuzlafa	تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā	تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā	نُزْلَفَ nuzlafa	تُزْلَفْنَ tuzlafna	يُزْلَفْنَ yuzlafna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُزْلَفْ ʔuzlaf	تُزْلَفْ tuzlaf	يُزْلَفْ yuzlaf	تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā	يُزْلَفَا yuzlafā	نُزْلَفْ nuzlaf	تُزْلَفُوا tuzlafū	يُزْلَفُوا yuzlafū
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	f	أُزْلَفْ ʔuzlaf	تُزْلَفِي tuzlafī	تُزْلَفْ tuzlaf	تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā	تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā	نُزْلَفْ nuzlaf	تُزْلَفْنَ tuzlafna	يُزْلَفْنَ yuzlafna

Verb

زَلَّفَ • (zallafa) II (non-past يُزَلِّفُ (yuzallifu), verbal noun تَزْلِيف (tazlīf)) (archaic)

to do it before, to execute earlier
to exaggerate, to fudge

Conjugation

Conjugation of **زَلَّفَ** (II, sound, full passive, verbal noun *تَزْلِيف*)

verbal noun الْمَصْدَر					تَزْلِيف tazlīf
active participle اِسْم الْفَاعِل					مُزَلِّف muzallif
passive participle اِسْم الْمَفْعُول					مُزَلَّف muzallaf
active voice الْفِعْل الْمَعْلُوم
		singular الْمُفْرَد			dual الْمُثَنَّى		plural الْجَمْع
		1^st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب	1^st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	زَلَّفْتُ zallaftu	زَلَّفْتَ zallafta	زَلَّفَ zallafa	زَلَّفْتُمَا zallaftumā	زَلَّفَا zallafā	زَلَّفْنَا zallafnā	زَلَّفْتُمْ zallaftum	زَلَّفُوا zallafū
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	f	زَلَّفْتُ zallaftu	زَلَّفْتِ zallafti	زَلَّفَتْ zallafat	زَلَّفْتُمَا zallaftumā	زَلَّفَتَا zallafatā	زَلَّفْنَا zallafnā	زَلَّفْتُنَّ zallaftunna	زَلَّفْنَ zallafna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أُزَلِّفُ ʔuzallifu	تُزَلِّفُ tuzallifu	يُزَلِّفُ yuzallifu	تُزَلِّفَانِ tuzallifāni	يُزَلِّفَانِ yuzallifāni	نُزَلِّفُ nuzallifu	تُزَلِّفُونَ tuzallifūna	يُزَلِّفُونَ yuzallifūna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	f	أُزَلِّفُ ʔuzallifu	تُزَلِّفِينَ tuzallifīna	تُزَلِّفُ tuzallifu	تُزَلِّفَانِ tuzallifāni	تُزَلِّفَانِ tuzallifāni	نُزَلِّفُ nuzallifu	تُزَلِّفْنَ tuzallifna	يُزَلِّفْنَ yuzallifna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُزَلِّفَ ʔuzallifa	تُزَلِّفَ tuzallifa	يُزَلِّفَ yuzallifa	تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā	يُزَلِّفَا yuzallifā	نُزَلِّفَ nuzallifa	تُزَلِّفُوا tuzallifū	يُزَلِّفُوا yuzallifū
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	f	أُزَلِّفَ ʔuzallifa	تُزَلِّفِي tuzallifī	تُزَلِّفَ tuzallifa	تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā	تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā	نُزَلِّفَ nuzallifa	تُزَلِّفْنَ tuzallifna	يُزَلِّفْنَ yuzallifna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُزَلِّفْ ʔuzallif	تُزَلِّفْ tuzallif	يُزَلِّفْ yuzallif	تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā	يُزَلِّفَا yuzallifā	نُزَلِّفْ nuzallif	تُزَلِّفُوا tuzallifū	يُزَلِّفُوا yuzallifū
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	f	أُزَلِّفْ ʔuzallif	تُزَلِّفِي tuzallifī	تُزَلِّفْ tuzallif	تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā	تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā	نُزَلِّفْ nuzallif	تُزَلِّفْنَ tuzallifna	يُزَلِّفْنَ yuzallifna
imperative الْأَمْر	m		زَلِّفْ zallif		زَلِّفَا zallifā			زَلِّفُوا zallifū
imperative الْأَمْر	f		زَلِّفِي zallifī		زَلِّفَا zallifā			زَلِّفْنَ zallifna

passive voice الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول
		singular الْمُفْرَد			dual الْمُثَنَّى		plural الْجَمْع
		1^st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب	1^st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2^nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3^rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	زُلِّفْتُ zulliftu	زُلِّفْتَ zullifta	زُلِّفَ zullifa	زُلِّفْتُمَا zulliftumā	زُلِّفَا zullifā	زُلِّفْنَا zullifnā	زُلِّفْتُمْ zulliftum	زُلِّفُوا zullifū
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	f	زُلِّفْتُ zulliftu	زُلِّفْتِ zullifti	زُلِّفَتْ zullifat	زُلِّفْتُمَا zulliftumā	زُلِّفَتَا zullifatā	زُلِّفْنَا zullifnā	زُلِّفْتُنَّ zulliftunna	زُلِّفْنَ zullifna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أُزَلَّفُ ʔuzallafu	تُزَلَّفُ tuzallafu	يُزَلَّفُ yuzallafu	تُزَلَّفَانِ tuzallafāni	يُزَلَّفَانِ yuzallafāni	نُزَلَّفُ nuzallafu	تُزَلَّفُونَ tuzallafūna	يُزَلَّفُونَ yuzallafūna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	f	أُزَلَّفُ ʔuzallafu	تُزَلَّفِينَ tuzallafīna	تُزَلَّفُ tuzallafu	تُزَلَّفَانِ tuzallafāni	تُزَلَّفَانِ tuzallafāni	نُزَلَّفُ nuzallafu	تُزَلَّفْنَ tuzallafna	يُزَلَّفْنَ yuzallafna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُزَلَّفَ ʔuzallafa	تُزَلَّفَ tuzallafa	يُزَلَّفَ yuzallafa	تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā	يُزَلَّفَا yuzallafā	نُزَلَّفَ nuzallafa	تُزَلَّفُوا tuzallafū	يُزَلَّفُوا yuzallafū
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	f	أُزَلَّفَ ʔuzallafa	تُزَلَّفِي tuzallafī	تُزَلَّفَ tuzallafa	تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā	تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā	نُزَلَّفَ nuzallafa	تُزَلَّفْنَ tuzallafna	يُزَلَّفْنَ yuzallafna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُزَلَّفْ ʔuzallaf	تُزَلَّفْ tuzallaf	يُزَلَّفْ yuzallaf	تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā	يُزَلَّفَا yuzallafā	نُزَلَّفْ nuzallaf	تُزَلَّفُوا tuzallafū	يُزَلَّفُوا yuzallafū
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	f	أُزَلَّفْ ʔuzallaf	تُزَلَّفِي tuzallafī	تُزَلَّفْ tuzallaf	تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā	تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā	نُزَلَّفْ nuzallaf	تُزَلَّفْنَ tuzallafna	يُزَلَّفْنَ yuzallafna

Noun

زَلْف • (zalf) m (archaic)

verbal noun of زَلَفَ (zalafa) (form I)

Declension

Declension of noun **زَلْف** (zalf)
singular	basic singular triptote
singular	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	زَلْف zalf	الزَّلْف az-zalf	زَلْف zalf
nominative	زَلْفٌ zalfun	الزَّلْفُ az-zalfu	زَلْفُ zalfu
accusative	زَلْفًا zalfan	الزَّلْفَ az-zalfa	زَلْفَ zalfa
genitive	زَلْفٍ zalfin	الزَّلْفِ az-zalfi	زَلْفِ zalfi

Noun

زَلَف • (zalaf) m (archaic)

verbal noun of زَلَفَ (zalafa) (form I)
grovelling, flattery by coming close in a respect

Declension

Declension of noun **زَلَف** (zalaf)
singular	basic singular triptote
singular	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	زَلَف zalaf	الزَّلَف az-zalaf	زَلَف zalaf
nominative	زَلَفٌ zalafun	الزَّلَفُ az-zalafu	زَلَفُ zalafu
accusative	زَلَفًا zalafan	الزَّلَفَ az-zalafa	زَلَفَ zalafa
genitive	زَلَفٍ zalafin	الزَّلَفِ az-zalafi	زَلَفِ zalafi

Noun

زُلَف • (zulaf) pl (archaic)

plural of زُلْفَة (zulfa)

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Classical Syriac ܙܠܦܐ (zalpā, zelpā), singulative ܙܠܦܬܐ (zlap̄ṯă, zelpǝṯā, “shard; mother of pearl”).

Noun

زَلَف or زِلْف • (zalaf or zilf) m (collective, singulative زَلَفة f (zalafa) or زِلْفَة (zilfa)) (obsolete)

mother-of-pearl-shell
- 7th century CE, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 54:134:
  ثُمَّ يُرْسِلُ اللّٰهُ مَطَرًا لَا يَكُنُّ مِنْهُ بَيْتُ مَدَرٍ وَلَا وَبَرٍ فَيَغْسِلُ الأَرْضَ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهَا كَالزَّلَفَةِ
  ṯumma yursilu llāhu maṭaran lā yakunnu minhu baytu madarin walā wabarin fayaḡsilu l-ʔarḍa ḥattā yatrukahā ka-z-zalafati
  Then God will send rain and there will be no brickhouse and no tent and he washes the earth, so that he leaves it blank like a nacre-shell.

Declension

Declension of noun **زَلَف** (zalaf)‎; **زِلْف** (zilf)
collective	basic collective triptote
collective	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	زَلَف‎; زِلْف zalaf‎; zilf	الزَّلَف‎; الزِّلْف az-zalaf‎; az-zilf	زَلَف‎; زِلْف zalaf‎; zilf
nominative	زَلَفٌ‎; زِلْفٌ zalafun‎; zilfun	الزَّلَفُ‎; الزِّلْفُ az-zalafu‎; az-zilfu	زَلَفُ‎; زِلْفُ zalafu‎; zilfu
accusative	زَلَفًا‎; زِلْفًا zalafan‎; zilfan	الزَّلَفَ‎; الزِّلْفَ az-zalafa‎; az-zilfa	زَلَفَ‎; زِلْفَ zalafa‎; zilfa
genitive	زَلَفٍ‎; زِلْفٍ zalafin‎; zilfin	الزَّلَفِ‎; الزِّلْفِ az-zalafi‎; az-zilfi	زَلَفِ‎; زِلْفِ zalafi‎; zilfi
singulative	singulative triptote in ـَة (-a)
singulative	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	زَلَفَة‎; زِلْفَة zalafa‎; zilfa	الزَّلَفَة‎; الزِّلْفَة az-zalafa‎; az-zilfa	زَلَفَة‎; زِلْفَة zalafat‎; zilfat
nominative	زَلَفَةٌ‎; زِلْفَةٌ zalafatun‎; zilfatun	الزَّلَفَةُ‎; الزِّلْفَةُ az-zalafatu‎; az-zilfatu	زَلَفَةُ‎; زِلْفَةُ zalafatu‎; zilfatu
accusative	زَلَفَةً‎; زِلْفَةً zalafatan‎; zilfatan	الزَّلَفَةَ‎; الزِّلْفَةَ az-zalafata‎; az-zilfata	زَلَفَةَ‎; زِلْفَةَ zalafata‎; zilfata
genitive	زَلَفَةٍ‎; زِلْفَةٍ zalafatin‎; zilfatin	الزَّلَفَةِ‎; الزِّلْفَةِ az-zalafati‎; az-zilfati	زَلَفَةِ‎; زِلْفَةِ zalafati‎; zilfati
dual	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	زَلَفَتَيْن‎; زِلْفَتَيْن zalafatayn‎; zilfatayn	الزَّلَفَتَيْن‎; الزِّلْفَتَيْن az-zalafatayn‎; az-zilfatayn	زَلَفَتَيْ‎; زِلْفَتَيْ zalafatay‎; zilfatay
nominative	زَلَفَتَانِ‎; زِلْفَتَانِ zalafatāni‎; zilfatāni	الزَّلَفَتَانِ‎; الزِّلْفَتَانِ az-zalafatāni‎; az-zilfatāni	زَلَفَتَا‎; زِلْفَتَا zalafatā‎; zilfatā
accusative	زَلَفَتَيْنِ‎; زِلْفَتَيْنِ zalafatayni‎; zilfatayni	الزَّلَفَتَيْنِ‎; الزِّلْفَتَيْنِ az-zalafatayni‎; az-zilfatayni	زَلَفَتَيْ‎; زِلْفَتَيْ zalafatay‎; zilfatay
genitive	زَلَفَتَيْنِ‎; زِلْفَتَيْنِ zalafatayni‎; zilfatayni	الزَّلَفَتَيْنِ‎; الزِّلْفَتَيْنِ az-zalafatayni‎; az-zilfatayni	زَلَفَتَيْ‎; زِلْفَتَيْ zalafatay‎; zilfatay
paucal (3-10)	sound feminine paucal
paucal (3-10)	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	زَلَفَات‎; زِلْفَات zalafāt‎; zilfāt	الزَّلَفَات‎; الزِّلْفَات az-zalafāt‎; az-zilfāt	زَلَفَات‎; زِلْفَات zalafāt‎; zilfāt
nominative	زَلَفَاتٌ‎; زِلْفَاتٌ zalafātun‎; zilfātun	الزَّلَفَاتُ‎; الزِّلْفَاتُ az-zalafātu‎; az-zilfātu	زَلَفَاتُ‎; زِلْفَاتُ zalafātu‎; zilfātu
accusative	زَلَفَاتٍ‎; زِلْفَاتٍ zalafātin‎; zilfātin	الزَّلَفَاتِ‎; الزِّلْفَاتِ az-zalafāti‎; az-zilfāti	زَلَفَاتِ‎; زِلْفَاتِ zalafāti‎; zilfāti
genitive	زَلَفَاتٍ‎; زِلْفَاتٍ zalafātin‎; zilfātin	الزَّلَفَاتِ‎; الزِّلْفَاتِ az-zalafāti‎; az-zilfāti	زَلَفَاتِ‎; زِلْفَاتِ zalafāti‎; zilfāti

References

Ullmann, Manfred (1992) Das Motiv des Spiegels in der arabischen Literatur des Mittelalters (Abhandlungen der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Göttingen: Philologisch-historische Klasse; 198) (in German), Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, pages 22–24, he notes and definitely proves with poet citations that the other meanings given in the dictionaries are imaginary.
“zlph”, in The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon Project, Cincinnati: Hebrew Union College, 1986–

Ottoman Turkish

Etymology

Borrowed from Persian (zolf, “curl, tress”).

Noun

زلف • (zülf)

lovelock, a lock of hair that hangs down and is worn apart from the hair that remains

Derived terms

زلف زمین (zülf-i zemin, “the darkness of night”)
زلف عروس (zülf-i ʿarus, “snailflower”)
زلفلو (zülflü, “adorned with lovelocks”)

Descendants

Turkish: zülüf
→ Albanian: zylyfe
→ Armenian: զիւլիւֆ (ziwliwf), զըլիֆ (zəlif)
→ Bulgarian: сколуфа (skolufa)
→ Romanian: zuluf
→ Serbo-Croatian:
- Cyrillic script: зулуфи
- Latin script: zulufi

Persian

Etymology

Belonging to (zolfi, “door-ring by which the chain is fastened”), (zolfin, “door-ring; curl, tress”), (zorfin, “door-ring”), which last has also been borrowed in Arabic زُرْفِين (zurfīn, “ring; bolt or ring of a door; column capital particularly with volutes”), زُرُّوف (zurrūf, “curl in the hair”), denominal زَرْفَنَ (zarfana, “to crook, to make curly; to mark with a figure of a ring or curl”). Their original is recorded as (zofrin), which relates to Avestan 𐬰𐬠𐬀𐬭 (zbar, “to walk crooked”), 𐬰𐬠𐬀𐬭𐬀𐬚𐬀 (zbaraθa, “foot”), 𐬰𐬠𐬀𐬭𐬀𐬵 (zbarah, “hill”), Sanskrit ह्वृ (hvṛ, “to be crooked or bent”).

Pronunciation

(Classical Persian) IPA^(key): /ˈzulf/

(Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [zʊlf]
- (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [zʊlf]
- (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [zulf]

(Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [zolf]

(Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [zulf]

Readings
Classical reading^?	zulf
Dari reading^?	zulf
Iranian reading^?	zolf
Tajik reading^?	zulf

Noun

زلف • (zulf / zolf) (Tajik spelling зулф)

curl, tress
― tire zolf ― dark hair
- c. 800 CE, Firooz:
  سرو سیمین ترا در مشک تر
  زلف فرخالت ز سر تا پا گرفت
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Derived terms

زلف بافته (zolf bâfte, “a braid”)

Descendants

→ Armenian: զըլիֆ (zəlif), զիլիֆ (zilif), զուլֆ (zulf), զյուլֆ (zyulf)
→ Azerbaijani: zülf
→ Bengali: জুলফি (zulfi)
→ Gujarati: જુલફું (julphũ)
→ Hindustani:
- Hindi: ज़ुल्फ़ (zulf)
- Urdu: زلف (zulf)
→ Khalaj: zulf
→ Northern Kurdish: zulf, zilf, zilif
→ Ottoman Turkish: زلف (zülüf, zülf)
- Turkish: zülüf
- → Albanian: zylyfe
- → Armenian: զիւլիւֆ (ziwliwf), զըլիֆ (zəlif)
- → Bulgarian: сколуфа (skolufa)
- → Romanian: zuluf
- → Serbo-Croatian:
  - Cyrillic script: зулуфи
  - Latin script: zulufi
→ Punjabi: ਜ਼ੁਲਫ਼ (zulaf), زلف (zulf)
→ Crimean Tatar: zuluf

References

Bartholomae, Christian (1904) Altiranisches Wörterbuch [Old Iranian Dictionary]‎^[6] (in German), Strassburg: K. J. Trübner, column 1699
Dehkhoda, Ali-Akbar (1931–) “زلف”, in Dehkhoda Dictionary Institute, editors, Dehkhoda Dictionary (in Persian), Tehran: University of Tehran Press
Monchi-Zadeh, Davoud (1990) Wörter aus Xurāsān und ihre Herkunft (Acta Iranica; 29)‎^[7] (in German), Leiden: E. J. Brill, page 208 Nr. 611
Steingass, Francis Joseph (1892) “زلف”, in A Comprehensive Persian–English dictionary, London: Routledge & K. Paul
Vullers, Johann August (1856–1864) “زلف”, in Lexicon Persico-Latinum etymologicum cum linguis maxime cognatis Sanscrita et Zendica et Pehlevica comparatum, e lexicis persice scriptis Borhâni Qâtiu, Haft Qulzum et Bahâri agam et persico-turcico Farhangi-Shuûrî confectum, adhibitis etiam Castelli, Meninski, Richardson et aliorum operibus et auctoritate scriptorum Persicorum adauctum‎^[8] (in Latin), volume II, Gießen: J. Ricker, page 138

Punjabi

Etymology

Borrowed from Classical Persian (zulf, “hair, specially if dishevelled”). See the Persian entry for more.

Pronunciation

(Standard Punjabi) IPA^(key): /zʊlf/
- (colloquial) IPA^(key): [zʊ.ləf(ə̆)]

Noun

زُلْف • (zulf) f (Gurmukhi spelling ਜ਼ੁਲਫ਼)

lock, strand of hair; tress

Declension

Declension of **زلف**
	singular	plural
direct	زُلْف (zulf)	زُلْفاں (zulfāṉ)
oblique	زُلْف (zulf)	زُلْفاں (zulfāṉ)
vocative	زُلْفے (zulfe)	زُلْفو (zulfo)
ablative	زُلْفوں (zulfoṉ)	زُلْفاں (zulfāṉ)
locative	زُلْفی (zulfī)	زُلْفِیں (zulfīṉ)
instrumental	زُلْفِیں (zulfīṉ)	زُلْفے (zulfe)

Urdu

Etymology

Borrowed from Classical Persian (zulf, “hair, specially if dishevelled”). See the Persian entry for more.

Pronunciation

(Standard Urdu) IPA^(key): /zʊlf/
Rhymes: -ʊlf

Noun

زُلْف • (zulf) f (Hindi spelling ज़ुल्फ़)

lock of hair; tress

Declension

Declension of **زلف**
	singular	plural
direct	زُلْف (zulf)	زُلْفیں (zulfẽ)
oblique	زُلْف (zulf)	زُلْفوں (zulfõ)
vocative	زُلْف (zulf)	زُلْفو (zulfo)

Arabic

Etymology 1

Verb

Conjugation

Verb

Conjugation

Noun

Declension

Noun

Declension

Noun

Etymology 2

Noun

Declension

References

Ottoman Turkish

Etymology

Noun

Derived terms

Descendants

Further reading

Persian

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Derived terms

Descendants

References

Punjabi

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Declension

Further reading

Urdu

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Declension

Further reading