What it means
ناامید (nâ-omid) means hopeless or despairing. It is formed with the native Persian negating prefix نا (nâ-) attached to امید (omid, hope), both elements of pure Persian origin. The word sits at CEFR B1 and is used neutrally across registers. Its direct opposite is امیدوار (omidvâr), hopeful. When someone says ناامید نشو, they are urging another person not to give up.
How to use it
- بعد از شکست کاملاً ناامید شد. (bad az shekast kamalan nâ-omid shod) “After the failure he became completely hopeless.”
- ناامید نشو، هنوز راهی هست. (nâ-omid nasho, hanooz râhi hast) “Don’t despair, there’s still a way.”
- از پیدا کردن کار ناامید شدم. (az peydâ kardan-e kâr nâ-omid shodam) “I’ve lost hope of finding a job.”
- نگاهش خیلی ناامیدانه بود. (negâhash kheyli nâ-omidâne bood) “His gaze was very despairing.”
Cultural note
In Persian, the act of losing hope has a moral and spiritual dimension. Classical poets and religious texts alike caution against ناامیدی (nâ-omidi, despair) as a spiritual failing, and the Quran verse warning against despairing of God’s mercy is widely known among Persian speakers. This background gives the word a slightly heavier weight than its English equivalent, and telling someone ناامید نشو carries genuine emotional urgency.