How do you say "favor" in Arabic?

مِنَّةٌ (minnah) — a favor or benefit conferred or bestowed on someone.

Why does مِنَّةٌ sometimes have a negative meaning?

Because it also serves as the verbal noun for مَنَّ in the sense of reproaching someone for a favor already given, i.e. bringing it up to make them feel indebted.

مِنَّةٌ favor in Arabic

مِنَّةٌ is how you say “favor” in Arabic.

Root م ن ن m-n-n. noun (verbal noun / maṣdar), feminine. minnah.

Arabic

English

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Meaning of favor in Arabic

a favor or benefit bestowed on someone the core sense behind the given gloss 'favor'
an obligation created by a favor received can rest upon one person or be owed to another
reproach for a favor already given as verbal noun of مَنَّ, used when a giver recounts or throws back a kindness to make the receiver feel indebted

Example sentence

فَإِن قبلهَا فمنّة وَصدقَة ثَانِيَة،

So if He accepts it, it is a further favor and charity,

فَمِنَّةٌ a favor

fa- = 'then' (answering the 'if'); minna means 'a favor'; the '-un' ending marks it as an indefinite subject ('then it is a favor').

From Returning to God

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How it is used

مِنَّةٌ is the verbal noun tied to مَنَّ عَلَيْهِ and carries two opposite shades: neutrally, a favor or benefit conferred, and negatively, the act of reproaching someone for a favor already given — recounting one's own generosity in a way that burdens the receiver with obligation. Classical commentary ties this negative sense to Qur'an 2:264.

Words from the same root

مَنَّ to confer a favor on someone; also, to reproach someone for a favor already given
مَنٌّ verbal noun of مَنَّ: the act of bestowing a favor, or of reproaching for one
مَنَّانٌ very bountiful; or, one who never gives without reproaching the receiver for it
تَمَنَّنَ form V verb, carrying the same senses as مَنَّ (to confer or to reproach a favor)
اِمْتِنَانِىٌّ gratuitous, granted purely as a favor rather than owed as a duty

Common questions

How do you say "favor" in Arabic?: مِنَّةٌ (minnah) — a favor or benefit conferred or bestowed on someone.
Why does مِنَّةٌ sometimes have a negative meaning?: Because it also serves as the verbal noun for مَنَّ in the sense of reproaching someone for a favor already given, i.e. bringing it up to make them feel indebted.

Related words

Definitions summarised from Lane's Arabic-English Lexicon (E. W. Lane, 1863–1893).