منع

Arabic

Etymology

From the root م ن ع (m n ʕ). Cognate with Hebrew מָנַע (mānaʿ).

Noun

مَنْع • (manʕ) m

1. verbal noun of مَنَعَ (manaʕa) (form I)
2. prevention

Declension

Declension of noun مَنْع (manʕ)

singular	basic singular triptote
	indefinite	definite	construct
informal	مَنْع manʕ	الْمَنْع al-manʕ	مَنْع manʕ
nominative	مَنْعٌ manʕun	الْمَنْعُ al-manʕu	مَنْعُ manʕu
accusative	مَنْعًا manʕan	الْمَنْعَ al-manʕa	مَنْعَ manʕa
genitive	مَنْعٍ manʕin	الْمَنْعِ al-manʕi	مَنْعِ manʕi

Descendants

• → Persian: منع (man')
• عات→ Turkish: men, ⇒ menetmek

Verb

مَنَعَ • (manaʕa) I (non-past يَمْنَعُ (yamnaʕu), verbal noun مَنْع (manʕ))

1. to hinder, to prevent, to repel
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 38:75:

     قَالَ يَـٰٓـإِبۡلِيسُ مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنۡ تَسۡجُدَ لِمَا خَلَقۡتُ بِيَدَىَّ أَسۡتَكۡبَرۡتَ أَمۡ كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلۡعَالِينَ

     "Qāla yāib'līsu mā mana'ka an tašjuda limā khalaqtu biyadayya astakbarta am kunta mina l-'ālīna"

     "Allah asked, “O Iblîs! What prevented you from prostrating to what I created with My Own Hands? Did you ˹just˺ become proud? Or have you always been arrogant?”"

2. to defend, to protect
   • 609–632 CE, Qur'an, 21:43:

     أَمۡ لَهُمۡ ءَالِهَةٌ تَمۡنَعُهُم مِّن دُونِنَا لَا يَسۡتَطِيعُونَ نَصۡرَ أَنفُسِهِمۡ وَلَا هُم مِّنَّا يُصۡحَبُونَ

     "Am lahum ālihatun tamna'uhum min dūninā lā yastaṭī'ūna naṣra anfusihim walā hum minā yuṣ'ḥabūna"

     "Or do they have gods—other than Us—that can protect them? They cannot ˹even˺ protect themselves, nor will they be aided against Us."

3. (Modern Standard Arabic) to forbid, to prohibit, to ban

Conjugation

Conjugation of مَنَعَ (I, sound, a ~ a, full passive, verbal noun مَنْع)

verbal noun الْمَصْدَر						مَنْع manʕ
active participle اِسْم الْفَاعِل						مَانِع māniʕ
passive participle اِسْم الْمَفْعُول						مَمْنُوع mamnūʕ
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	مَنَعْتُ manaʕtu	مَنَعْتَ manaʕta	مَنَعَ manaʕa		مَنَعْتُمَا manaʕtumā	مَنَعَا manaʕā		مَنَعْنَا manaʕnā	مَنَعْتُمْ manaʕtum	مَنَعُوا manaʕū
	f		مَنَعْتِ manaʕti	مَنَعَتْ manaʕat			مَنَعَتَا manaʕatā			مَنَعْتُنَّ manaʕtunna	مَنَعْنَ manaʕna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أَمْنَعُ ʔamnaʕu	تَمْنَعُ tamnaʕu	يَمْنَعُ yamnaʕu		تَمْنَعَانِ tamnaʕāni	يَمْنَعَانِ yamnaʕāni		نَمْنَعُ namnaʕu	تَمْنَعُونَ tamnaʕūna	يَمْنَعُونَ yamnaʕūna
	f		تَمْنَعِينَ tamnaʕīna	تَمْنَعُ tamnaʕu			تَمْنَعَانِ tamnaʕāni			تَمْنَعْنَ tamnaʕna	يَمْنَعْنَ yamnaʕna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أَمْنَعَ ʔamnaʕa	تَمْنَعَ tamnaʕa	يَمْنَعَ yamnaʕa		تَمْنَعَا tamnaʕā	يَمْنَعَا yamnaʕā		نَمْنَعَ namnaʕa	تَمْنَعُوا tamnaʕū	يَمْنَعُوا yamnaʕū
	f		تَمْنَعِي tamnaʕī	تَمْنَعَ tamnaʕa			تَمْنَعَا tamnaʕā			تَمْنَعْنَ tamnaʕna	يَمْنَعْنَ yamnaʕna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أَمْنَعْ ʔamnaʕ	تَمْنَعْ tamnaʕ	يَمْنَعْ yamnaʕ		تَمْنَعَا tamnaʕā	يَمْنَعَا yamnaʕā		نَمْنَعْ namnaʕ	تَمْنَعُوا tamnaʕū	يَمْنَعُوا yamnaʕū
	f		تَمْنَعِي tamnaʕī	تَمْنَعْ tamnaʕ			تَمْنَعَا tamnaʕā			تَمْنَعْنَ tamnaʕna	يَمْنَعْنَ yamnaʕna
imperative الْأَمْر	m		اِمْنَعْ imnaʕ			اِمْنَعَا imnaʕā				اِمْنَعُوا imnaʕū
	f		اِمْنَعِي imnaʕī							اِمْنَعْنَ imnaʕna
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	مُنِعْتُ muniʕtu	مُنِعْتَ muniʕta	مُنِعَ muniʕa		مُنِعْتُمَا muniʕtumā	مُنِعَا muniʕā		مُنِعْنَا muniʕnā	مُنِعْتُمْ muniʕtum	مُنِعُوا muniʕū
	f		مُنِعْتِ muniʕti	مُنِعَتْ muniʕat			مُنِعَتَا muniʕatā			مُنِعْتُنَّ muniʕtunna	مُنِعْنَ muniʕna
non-past (imperfect) indicative الْمُضَارِع الْمَرْفُوع	m	أُمْنَعُ ʔumnaʕu	تُمْنَعُ tumnaʕu	يُمْنَعُ yumnaʕu		تُمْنَعَانِ tumnaʕāni	يُمْنَعَانِ yumnaʕāni		نُمْنَعُ numnaʕu	تُمْنَعُونَ tumnaʕūna	يُمْنَعُونَ yumnaʕūna
	f		تُمْنَعِينَ tumnaʕīna	تُمْنَعُ tumnaʕu			تُمْنَعَانِ tumnaʕāni			تُمْنَعْنَ tumnaʕna	يُمْنَعْنَ yumnaʕna
subjunctive الْمُضَارِع الْمَنْصُوب	m	أُمْنَعَ ʔumnaʕa	تُمْنَعَ tumnaʕa	يُمْنَعَ yumnaʕa		تُمْنَعَا tumnaʕā	يُمْنَعَا yumnaʕā		نُمْنَعَ numnaʕa	تُمْنَعُوا tumnaʕū	يُمْنَعُوا yumnaʕū
	f		تُمْنَعِي tumnaʕī	تُمْنَعَ tumnaʕa			تُمْنَعَا tumnaʕā			تُمْنَعْنَ tumnaʕna	يُمْنَعْنَ yumnaʕna
jussive الْمُضَارِع الْمَجْزُوم	m	أُمْنَعْ ʔumnaʕ	تُمْنَعْ tumnaʕ	يُمْنَعْ yumnaʕ		تُمْنَعَا tumnaʕā	يُمْنَعَا yumnaʕā		نُمْنَعْ numnaʕ	تُمْنَعُوا tumnaʕū	يُمْنَعُوا yumnaʕū
	f		تُمْنَعِي tumnaʕī	تُمْنَعْ tumnaʕ			تُمْنَعَا tumnaʕā			تُمْنَعْنَ tumnaʕna	يُمْنَعْنَ yumnaʕna

Descendants

• Egyptian Arabic: منع (manaʕ)
• Maltese: mana’
• South Levantine Arabic: منع (manaʕ)

Egyptian Arabic

Root
م ن ع
1 term

Etymology 1

From Arabic مَنَعَ (manaʕa).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ma.naʕ/, [ˈmænæʕ]

Verb

منع • (manaʕ) I (non-past يمنع (yimnaʕ))

1. (transitive) to prevent, to obstruct, to block

Conjugation

Conjugation of منع

		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
past	m	منعت (manaʕt)	منعت (manaʕt)	منع (manaʕ)		منعنا (manaʕna)	منعتوا (manaʕtu)	منعوا (manaʕu)
	f		منعتي (manaʕti)	منعت (manaʕit)
present subjunctive	m	امنع (amnaʕ)	تمنع (timnaʕ)	يمنع (yimnaʕ)		نمنع (nimnaʕ)	تمنعوا (timnaʕu)	يمنعوا (yimnaʕu)
	f		تمنعي (timnaʕi)	تمنع (timnaʕ)
present indicative	m	بمنع (bamnaʕ)	بتمنع (bitimnaʕ)	بيمنع (biyimnaʕ)		بنمنع (binimnaʕ)	بتمنعوا (bitimnaʕu)	بيمنعوا (biyimnaʕu)
	f		بتمنعي (bitimnaʕi)	بتمنع (bitimnaʕ)
future1	m	همنع (hamnaʕ)	هتمنع (hatimnaʕ)	هيمنع (hayimnaʕ)		هنمنع (hanimnaʕ)	هتمنعوا (hatimnaʕu)	هيمنعوا (hayimnaʕu)
	f		هتمنعي (hatimnaʕi)	هتمنع (hatimnaʕ)
imperative	m		امنع (imnaʕ)				امنعوا (imnaʕu)
	f		امنعي (imnaʕi)

¹ The future tense can be prefixed with either هـ (ha-) or حـ (ḥa-) depending on the speaker.

Etymology 2

From Arabic مَنْع (manʕ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /manʕ/, [ˈmænʕ]

Noun

منع • (manʕ) m

1. obstruct, pervention, prohibition

Ottoman Turkish

Etymology

From Arabic مَنْع (manʕ).

Noun

منع • (men)

1. preventing, hindering
2. forbidding, prohibition

Descendants

• Turkish: men

References

• Kélékian, Diran (1911) “منع”, in Dictionnaire turc-français‎^[1], Constantinople: Mihran, page 1235
• Nişanyan, Sevan (2002–) “men”, in Nişanyan Sözlük
• Redhouse, James W. (1890) “منع”, in A Turkish and English Lexicon‎^[2], Constantinople: A. H. Boyajian, page 2006

Persian

Etymology

Borrowed from Arabic مَنْع (manʕ).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Persian) IPA^(key): [manʔ]

 

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [mänʔ]

• (Dari, formal) IPA^(key): [mänʔ]
  • (Kabuli) IPA^(key): [män]
  • (Hazaragi) IPA^(key): [män]

• (Iran, formal) IPA^(key): [mænʔ]

• (Tajik, formal) IPA^(key): [mänʔ]

Readings
Classical reading?	man'
Dari reading?	man'
Iranian reading?	man'
Tajik reading?	man'

Noun

Dari	منع
Iranian Persian
Tajik	манъ

منع • (man')

1. prevention

   منع رفت و آمد ― man-e raft o âmad ― curfew

Adjective

منع • (man')

1. prohibited

Derived terms

• منع کردن (man' kardan)

Further reading

• Hayyim, Sulayman (1934) “منع”, in New Persian–English dictionary, Teheran: Librairie-imprimerie Béroukhim

Punjabi

Pronunciation

• (Standard Punjabi) IPA^(key): [mɐ˦.näː]

Adjective

مَنَع • (manaʻ) (indeclinable, Gurmukhi spelling ਮਨ੍ਹਾ)

1. restricted, unallowed

Further reading

• Iqbal, Salah ud-Din (2002) “منع”, in vaḍḍī panjābī lughat‎ (in Punjabi), Lahore: ʻAzīz Pablisharz
• “ਮਨ੍ਹਾ”, in Punjabi-English Dictionary, Patiala: Punjabi University, 2025

South Levantine Arabic

Root
م ن ع
4 terms

Etymology

From Arabic مَنَعَ (manaʕa).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ma.naʕ/, [ˈma.naʕ]

• Audio (al-Lidd):

  (file)

Verb

منع • (manaʕ) I (present بمنع (bimnaʕ), passive participle ممنوع (mamnūʕ))

1. to forbid

   Synonym: حرّم (ḥarram)

   Antonym: سمح (samaḥ)

2. to prevent

   خبّرت صاحباتها يغسّلو إيديهم منيح عشان نمنع انتشار العدوى.

   ḵabbarat ṣāḥebātha yḡasselu ʔīdēhom mnīḥ ʕašān nimnaʕ intišār il-ʕadwa

   She told her friends to wash their hands well in order to prevent the spread of the infection.

Conjugation

Conjugation of منع

		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
past	m	منعت (manaʕt)	منعت (manaʕt)	منع (manaʕ)		منعنا (manaʕna)	منعتو (manaʕtu)	منعو (manaʕu)
	f		منعتي (manaʕti)	منعت (manʕat)
present	m	بمنع (bamnaʕ)	بتمنع (btimnaʕ)	بمنع (bimnaʕ)		منمنع (mnimnaʕ)	بتمنعو (btimnaʕu)	بمنعو (bimnaʕu)
	f		بتمنعي (btimnaʕi)	بتمنع (btimnaʕ)
subjunctive	m	أمنع (ʔamnaʕ)	تمنع (timnaʕ)	يمنع (yimnaʕ)		نمنع (nimnaʕ)	تمنعو (timnaʕu)	يمنعو (yimnaʕu)
	f		تمنعي (timnaʕi)	تمنع (timnaʕ)
imperative	m		امنع (imnaʕ)				امنعو (imnaʕu)
	f		امنعي (imnaʕi)

Urdu

Etymology

Borrowed from Classical Persian منع (man'), from Arabic مَنْع (manʕ).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Urdu) IPA^(key): /mə.nə(ʔ)/, [mə.nɑː]

Adjective

مَنَع • (mana') (Hindi spelling मना)

1. prohibited, forbidden, not allowed

References

• “منع”, in اُردُو لُغَت (urdū luġat) (in Urdu), Ministry of Education: Government of Pakistan, 2017.
• “منع”, in ریخْتَہ لُغَت (rexta luġat) - Rekhta Dictionary [Urdu dictionary with meanings in Hindi & English], Noida, India: Rekhta Foundation, 2025.