-i (izofa)

Persian Linking -i

Level 6

Main noun + -i + second word: ahli ilm (people of learning), dardi dil (heartache). After a vowel it is -yi: nuqtayi nazar (point of view).

How It Works

The pattern. The first word is the main noun, and it takes -i. The second word tells you what kind or whose:

  • ahli ilm (people of learning), in Uzbek order ilm ahli
  • dardi dil (heartache, what weighs on the heart), in Uzbek order dil dardi
  • nuqtayi nazar (point of view), in Uzbek order nazar nuqtasi
  • tarjimayi hol (life story, CV)
  • dardi bedavo (an incurable ailment)

A mirror image of Uzbek. In an ordinary noun pair, the main noun comes last and takes -(s)i: ilm ahli. In an izofa, the main noun comes first and takes -i: ahli ilm.

Spelling. The two words are written apart. After a consonant, write -i: dardi bedavo. After a vowel, write -yi: nuqtayi nazar, tarjimayi hol. A few phrases have become single words and are written together, such as dardisar (a nuisance), from dardi sar (headache).

Adding Uzbek endings. The whole phrase acts like one noun, so Uzbek endings go at the very end: nuqtayi nazarimcha (in my view), tarjimayi holingizni (your CV, as an object).

Where you meet it. Izofa fills classical poetry and appears in names such as Goʻri Amir, the mausoleum of Amir Temur in Samarkand. A few izofa phrases are everyday office words: people write a tarjimayi hol and share their nuqtayi nazar. You cannot make new phrases this way from ordinary Uzbek words.

Examples (6)

  1. Mening nuqtayi nazarimcha, bu reja toʻgʻri.

    In my view, this plan is right.

    Word by Word: My point view-my-by, this plan right.

    The Uzbek ending -imcha goes on the last word of the phrase.

  2. Arizaga tarjimayi holingizni ilova qiling.

    Attach your CV to the application.

    Word by Word: Application-to life-story-your-(obj) attachment do.

  3. U ahli ilm orasida katta hurmatga ega.

    He is highly respected among scholars.

    Word by Word: He people-of learning among great respect-to owner.

  4. Doʻstiga dardi dilini aytib berdi.

    She poured out her heart to her friend.

    Word by Word: Friend-her-to pain heart-her-(obj) telling gave.

  5. Ilgari bu kasallik dardi bedavo hisoblanardi.

    In the past, this illness was considered incurable.

    Word by Word: Earlier this illness pain cureless was-considered.

  6. Goʻri Amir maqbarasi Samarqandda joylashgan.

    The Gur-e Amir mausoleum is in Samarkand.

    Word by Word: Tomb Amir mausoleum-its Samarkand-in is-located.

    Goʻri Amir is an izofa name: the tomb (goʻr) of the Amir.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing -i after a vowel instead of -yi.

    Mening nuqtai nazarimcha, bu reja toʻgʻri.
    Mening nuqtayi nazarimcha, bu reja toʻgʻri.

    Uzbek Latin spelling uses -yi after a vowel: nuqtayi nazar, tarjimayi hol.

  • Building a new izofa from ordinary Uzbek words.

    Bu kitobi maktab.
    Bu maktab kitobi.

    Izofa lives only in fixed phrases. For a new pair, use Uzbek order: the main noun last, with -(s)i.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-i (izofa)Level 6Persian Linking -i

Learn This First

Builds on Noun Pairs Without -ning.