زن صفت (Zan sefat)

/zæn seˈfæt/insult

What does زن صفت (Zan sefat) mean? زن صفت (Zan sefat) is a Dari strong that translates to “effeminate / sissy / womanish” in English.

woman-like / woman-natured

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"effeminate / sissy / womanish"

Telling a man he has the qualities of a woman — in the Afghan context, this means emotional, weak, indecisive, gossipy, or physically soft. It's a direct attack on masculinity using femininity as the weapon. The insult says a man belongs in the women's section of the house, not among men.

زن صفت نباش، مردانه گپ بزن. (Zan sefat nabash, mardana gap bezan. - Don't be womanish, speak like a man.) — About a man showing emotion or hesitating.