νισάφι
Greek
Etymology
From Ottoman Turkish إنصاف (insâf, “mercy, justice based on pity”) with metathesis [in]>[ni], ultimately from Arabic إِنْصَاف (ʔinṣāf, “just treatment”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /niˈsa.fi/
- Hyphenation: νι‧σά‧φι
Noun
νισάφι • (nisáfi) n (indeclinable)
- pity, self-restraint
Usage notes
Only used as the object in phrases such as κάνω νισάφι (káno nisáfi, “to show self-restraint”), δεν έχω νισάφι (den écho nisáfi, “to be cruel, to not show mercy”).
Interjection
νισάφι • (nisáfi)
- enough!
- Synonym: έλεος (éleos, interjection)
Further reading
- νισάφι - Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.