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)

1. 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

     I 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
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	زَلَفْتُ zalaftu	زَلَفْتَ zalafta	زَلَفَ zalafa		زَلَفْتُمَا zalaftumā	زَلَفَا zalafā		زَلَفْنَا zalafnā	زَلَفْتُمْ zalaftum	زَلَفُوا zalafū
	f		زَلَفْتِ zalafti	زَلَفَتْ zalafat			زَلَفَتَا zalafatā			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
	f		تَزْلُفِينَ tazlufīna	تَزْلُفُ tazlufu			تَزْلُفَانِ tazlufāni			تَزْلُفْنَ tazlufna	يَزْلُفْنَ yazlufna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أَزْلُفَ ʔazlufa	تَزْلُفَ tazlufa	يَزْلُفَ yazlufa		تَزْلُفَا tazlufā	يَزْلُفَا yazlufā		نَزْلُفَ nazlufa	تَزْلُفُوا tazlufū	يَزْلُفُوا yazlufū
	f		تَزْلُفِي tazlufī	تَزْلُفَ tazlufa			تَزْلُفَا tazlufā			تَزْلُفْنَ tazlufna	يَزْلُفْنَ yazlufna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أَزْلُفْ ʔazluf	تَزْلُفْ tazluf	يَزْلُفْ yazluf		تَزْلُفَا tazlufā	يَزْلُفَا yazlufā		نَزْلُفْ nazluf	تَزْلُفُوا tazlufū	يَزْلُفُوا yazlufū
	f		تَزْلُفِي tazlufī	تَزْلُفْ tazluf			تَزْلُفَا tazlufā			تَزْلُفْنَ tazlufna	يَزْلُفْنَ yazlufna
imperative الْأَمْر	m		اُزْلُفْ uzluf			اُزْلُفَا uzlufā				اُزْلُفُوا uzlufū
	f		اُزْلُفِي uzlufī							اُزْلُفْنَ uzlufna
passive voice الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول
		singular الْمُفْرَد				dual الْمُثَنَّى			plural الْجَمْع
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	زُلِفْتُ zuliftu	زُلِفْتَ zulifta	زُلِفَ zulifa		زُلِفْتُمَا zuliftumā	زُلِفَا zulifā		زُلِفْنَا zulifnā	زُلِفْتُمْ zuliftum	زُلِفُوا zulifū
	f		زُلِفْتِ zulifti	زُلِفَتْ zulifat			زُلِفَتَا zulifatā			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
	f		تُزْلَفِينَ tuzlafīna	تُزْلَفُ tuzlafu			تُزْلَفَانِ tuzlafāni			تُزْلَفْنَ tuzlafna	يُزْلَفْنَ yuzlafna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُزْلَفَ ʔuzlafa	تُزْلَفَ tuzlafa	يُزْلَفَ yuzlafa		تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā	يُزْلَفَا yuzlafā		نُزْلَفَ nuzlafa	تُزْلَفُوا tuzlafū	يُزْلَفُوا yuzlafū
	f		تُزْلَفِي tuzlafī	تُزْلَفَ tuzlafa			تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā			تُزْلَفْنَ tuzlafna	يُزْلَفْنَ yuzlafna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُزْلَفْ ʔuzlaf	تُزْلَفْ tuzlaf	يُزْلَفْ yuzlaf		تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā	يُزْلَفَا yuzlafā		نُزْلَفْ nuzlaf	تُزْلَفُوا tuzlafū	يُزْلَفُوا yuzlafū
	f		تُزْلَفِي tuzlafī	تُزْلَفْ tuzlaf			تُزْلَفَا tuzlafā			تُزْلَفْنَ tuzlafna	يُزْلَفْنَ yuzlafna

Verb

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

1. to do it before, to execute earlier
2. 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
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	زَلَّفْتُ zallaftu	زَلَّفْتَ zallafta	زَلَّفَ zallafa		زَلَّفْتُمَا zallaftumā	زَلَّفَا zallafā		زَلَّفْنَا zallafnā	زَلَّفْتُمْ zallaftum	زَلَّفُوا zallafū
	f		زَلَّفْتِ zallafti	زَلَّفَتْ zallafat			زَلَّفَتَا zallafatā			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
	f		تُزَلِّفِينَ tuzallifīna	تُزَلِّفُ tuzallifu			تُزَلِّفَانِ tuzallifāni			تُزَلِّفْنَ tuzallifna	يُزَلِّفْنَ yuzallifna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُزَلِّفَ ʔuzallifa	تُزَلِّفَ tuzallifa	يُزَلِّفَ yuzallifa		تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā	يُزَلِّفَا yuzallifā		نُزَلِّفَ nuzallifa	تُزَلِّفُوا tuzallifū	يُزَلِّفُوا yuzallifū
	f		تُزَلِّفِي tuzallifī	تُزَلِّفَ tuzallifa			تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā			تُزَلِّفْنَ tuzallifna	يُزَلِّفْنَ yuzallifna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُزَلِّفْ ʔuzallif	تُزَلِّفْ tuzallif	يُزَلِّفْ yuzallif		تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā	يُزَلِّفَا yuzallifā		نُزَلِّفْ nuzallif	تُزَلِّفُوا tuzallifū	يُزَلِّفُوا yuzallifū
	f		تُزَلِّفِي tuzallifī	تُزَلِّفْ tuzallif			تُزَلِّفَا tuzallifā			تُزَلِّفْنَ tuzallifna	يُزَلِّفْنَ yuzallifna
imperative الْأَمْر	m		زَلِّفْ zallif			زَلِّفَا zallifā				زَلِّفُوا zallifū
	f		زَلِّفِي zallifī							زَلِّفْنَ zallifna
passive voice الْفِعْل الْمَجْهُول
		singular الْمُفْرَد				dual الْمُثَنَّى			plural الْجَمْع
		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب		1st person الْمُتَكَلِّم	2nd person الْمُخَاطَب	3rd person الْغَائِب
past (perfect) indicative الْمَاضِي	m	زُلِّفْتُ zulliftu	زُلِّفْتَ zullifta	زُلِّفَ zullifa		زُلِّفْتُمَا zulliftumā	زُلِّفَا zullifā		زُلِّفْنَا zullifnā	زُلِّفْتُمْ zulliftum	زُلِّفُوا zullifū
	f		زُلِّفْتِ zullifti	زُلِّفَتْ zullifat			زُلِّفَتَا zullifatā			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
	f		تُزَلَّفِينَ tuzallafīna	تُزَلَّفُ tuzallafu			تُزَلَّفَانِ tuzallafāni			تُزَلَّفْنَ tuzallafna	يُزَلَّفْنَ yuzallafna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُزَلَّفَ ʔuzallafa	تُزَلَّفَ tuzallafa	يُزَلَّفَ yuzallafa		تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā	يُزَلَّفَا yuzallafā		نُزَلَّفَ nuzallafa	تُزَلَّفُوا tuzallafū	يُزَلَّفُوا yuzallafū
	f		تُزَلَّفِي tuzallafī	تُزَلَّفَ tuzallafa			تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā			تُزَلَّفْنَ tuzallafna	يُزَلَّفْنَ yuzallafna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُزَلَّفْ ʔuzallaf	تُزَلَّفْ tuzallaf	يُزَلَّفْ yuzallaf		تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā	يُزَلَّفَا yuzallafā		نُزَلَّفْ nuzallaf	تُزَلَّفُوا tuzallafū	يُزَلَّفُوا yuzallafū
	f		تُزَلَّفِي tuzallafī	تُزَلَّفْ tuzallaf			تُزَلَّفَا tuzallafā			تُزَلَّفْنَ tuzallafna	يُزَلَّفْنَ yuzallafna

Noun

زَلْف • (zalf) m (archaic)

1. verbal noun of زَلَفَ (zalafa) (form I)

Declension

Declension of noun زَلْف (zalf)

Singular	basic singular triptote
	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)

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

Declension

Declension of noun زَلَف (zalaf)

Singular	basic singular triptote
	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)

1. 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)

1. 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
	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)
	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
	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 زلف (zolf, “curl, tress”).

Noun

زلف • (zülf)

1. 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

Further reading

• Çağbayır, Yaşar (2007) “zülüf”, in Ötüken Türkçe Sözlük (in Turkish), volume 1, Istanbul: Ötüken Neşriyat, page 5507
• Hindoglu, Artin (1838) “زلف”, in Hazine-i lûgat ou dictionnaire abrégé turc-français‎^[1], Vienna: F. Beck, page 257a
• Kélékian, Diran (1911) “زلف”, in Dictionnaire turc-français‎^[2], Constantinople: Mihran, page 645
• Meninski, Franciszek à Mesgnien (1687) “Cirrus”, in Complementum thesauri linguarum orientalium, seu onomasticum latino-turcico-arabico-persicum, simul idem index verborum lexici turcico-arabico-persici, quod latinâ, germanicâ, aliarumque linguarum adjectâ nomenclatione nuper in lucem editum‎^[3], Vienna, column 185
• Meninski, Franciszek à Mesgnien (1680) “زلف”, in Thesaurus linguarum orientalium, Turcicae, Arabicae, Persicae, praecipuas earum opes à Turcis peculiariter usurpatas continens, nimirum Lexicon Turkico-Arabico-Persicum‎^[4], Vienna, columns 2459-2460
• Nişanyan, Sevan (2002–) “zülüf”, in Nişanyan Sözlük
• Redhouse, James W. (1890) “زلف”, in A Turkish and English Lexicon‎^[5], Constantinople: A. H. Boyajian, page 1012

Persian

Etymology

Belonging to زلفی (zolfi, “door-ring by which the chain is fastened”), زلفین (zolfin, “door-ring; curl, tress”), زرفین (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 زفرین (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): [zulf]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [zʊlf]

• (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

Dari	زلف
Iranian Persian
Tajik	зулф

زلف • (zolf)

1. curl, tress

   تیره زلف ― tire zolf ― dark hair

   • c. 800 CE, Firooz :

     سرو سیمین ترا در مشک تر
     زلف فرخالت ز سر تا پا گرفت

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

• → 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
• → 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