DEFINITION

‘izaafat’ ( Devanagri: इज़ाफ़त | IPA:  /ɪzaːfət̪/ | Pronunciation:  ) is a device which is used to connect two words using the ‘e’ (ए) sound at the end of the first word. It has two main purposes:

To indicate “possession”

To denote the use of a word as an adjective

23.1: izaafat - zer

In mose cases, izaafat is used to connect two nouns and denote “possession of” like a genitive marker^(?), and conveys the meaning of “kaa” (का), “kii” (की), “ke” (के) or like that of “of” in English.

There are a few cases where izaafat is used to connect a noun and an adjective and does not indicate “possession”.

RULE

If the first word of a compound ends with an ‘ain’, ‘chhoTii ye’ or a consonant, izaafat is denoted by placing a zer under the last letter of the first word which lends an ‘e’ (ए) sound at the end of it.

For example, let’s look at the compound “dard-e-dil” (दर्द-ए-दिल):

Above: The compound word “dard-e-dil”. Notice the zer under the second ‘daal’ depicting izaafat.

The word “dard-e-dil” shown above is actually made up of two nouns - “dard” (दर्द), meaning “pain” and “dil” (दिल), meaning “heart”. The zer placed under the second ‘daal’ depicts the izaafat and hence the possession, creating the compound “dard-e-dil” which means “pain of the heart” quite literally, or “heart-ache”. Look at the illustration below:

Above: ‘dard’ + zer + ‘dil’ = “dard-e-dil”

IMPORTANT

Once again, like we saw with the vaav-e-atf, most people, who read Urdu in Devanagari or Roman scripts, pronounce this zer as a separate ‘e’ (ए) sound. It should be noted that the sound of ‘e’ should be combined at the end of the first word.

For example, in the word “dard-e-dil”, the first part should be read as a single, continuous word - “darde” (दर्दे) and not two distinct words “dard” & “e”. Listen to the comparative sounds below:

Similarly, here are a few more words where we can see the izaafat connecting two nouns. Click on the speaker icons to listen to the correct pronunciation of each of these.

Above: A few examples where izaafat is used to connect two nouns. Listen to the pronunciation carefully.

Here are a couple of examples where the izaafat is used to connect an adjective and a noun:

Above: A few examples where izaafat is used to connect an adjective and a noun

23.2: izaafat - ‘chhoTii he’ + ‘hamza’

In some cases, izaafat is also depicted by placing a ‘hamza’ over the ‘chhoTii he’ in a word.

RULE

If the first word of a compound ends with a ‘chhoTii he’ acting as the vowel ‘a’ (अ), for example in words like “qatra” (क़तरा), a ‘hamza’ is placed over the ‘chhoTii he’ which lends an ‘e’ (ए) sound at the end of the word.

For example, let’s look at the compound “qatra-e-KHuun” (क़तरा-ए-ख़ून), meaning “drop of blood”:

Above: The compound word “qatra-e-KHuun”. Notice the ‘hamza’ sitting atop the ‘chhoTii he’.

Let’s see a simple break-down of this:

Above: ‘qatra’ + ‘KHuun’ = “qatra-e-KHuun”

Here’s another word for you - “jazba-e-dil” (जज़्बा-ए-दिल), meaning “passion of the heart”:

Above: The compound word “jazba-e-dil”. Notice the ‘hamza’ sitting atop the connected form of ‘chhoTii he’.

23.3: izaafat - ‘ba.Dii ye’ + ‘hamza’

There are also cases where the izaafat is depicted by placing a ‘hamza’ over the ‘ba.Dii ye’ in a word. Memorize the rule below.

RULE - 1

If the first word of a compound ends with a ‘ba.Dii ye’, a ‘hamza’ is placed over it to denote izaafat. This ‘hamza’, as we’ve seen in the previous examples, lends an ‘e’ (ए) sound at the end of the word.

For example, let’s look at the compound “shai-e-latiif” (शै-ए-लतीफ़), meaning “delicate thing”:

Above: The compound word “shai-e-latiif”. Notice the ‘hamza’ sitting atop the ‘ba.Dii ye’.

And here’s a simple break-down of this in effect:

Above: ‘shai’ + ‘latiif’ = “shai-e-latiif”

The combination of ‘ba.Dii ye’ and ‘hamza’ is also used to denote izaafat in cases where the first word of the compound does not end with the ‘ba.Dii ye’. Here’s the second rule for this:

RULE - 2

If the first word of a compound ends with an ‘alif’ or a ‘vaao’, a combination of the ‘ba.Dii ye’ carrying a ‘hamza’ over it is added between the two words to denote izaafat. It is this combination then, that lends an ‘e’ (ए) sound at the end of the first word.

For example, let’s look at the compound “buu-e-gul” (बू-ए -गुल), meaning “fragrance of the flower”:

Above: The compound word “buu-e-gul”. Notice the addition of the ‘ba.Dii ye’ with the ‘hamza’ between the words “buu” and “gul”.

In the example above, the first word of the compound - “buu”, ends with a ‘vaao’. Hence, going by the rule mentioned above, a ‘ba.Dii ye’ with a ‘hamza’ over it is placed between the words “buu” and “gul” to denote the izaafat. Here’s a break-down:

Above: ‘buu’ + ‘gul’ = “buu-e-gul”

And now, let’s look at an example where the first word in the compound ends with an ‘alif’ - “sazaa-e-maut” (सज़ा-ए-मौत), meaning “punishment of death” literally, or “sentenced to death”:

Above: ‘sazaa’ + ‘maut’ = “sazaa-e-maut” . Notice the addition of the ‘ba.Dii ye’ with the ‘hamza’ between the two words to denote izaafat.

You’ll come across many such compound words while reading various Urdu texts. Having covered this topic, you should be well-versed to identify and understand them with increasing fluency over time.