nafrat

Nafrat is a term used in several languages, notably Persian, Urdu, and Turkish, to denote intense dislike or hatred toward a person or group. In Urdu and Hindi, it is written نفرت and commonly romanized as nafrat; in Persian, نفرت is likewise used, and in Turkish the equivalent term is nefret. As a lexical item, naf rat functions as a noun and frequently appears in expressions describing attitudes, emotions, or actions rooted in aversion.

Etymology and cognates: The word derives from older Persian and Arabic roots associated with turning away or avoidance. In Urdu, Persian, and Arabic spellings share the same semantic core of repugnance or repudiation, while Turkish uses nefret as its direct cognate. The cross-linguistic similarity reflects historical cultural and linguistic contact across the region.

Usage and context: Nafrat describes a social and emotional stance rather than a clinical condition. It is commonly used to characterize hostility, prejudice, or dehumanizing rhetoric toward individuals or groups, and to critique or analyze such attitudes in literature, journalism, and public discourse. The term can appear in discussions of intergroup conflict, discrimination, or violence, as well as in efforts to promote tolerance and social cohesion.

See also: Hate, Hatred, Hate speech, Intergroup contact, Anti-hate campaigns.