Living completely off the grid comes with harsh realities. When you want to emphasize a difficult situation by adding an even more extreme example, you can use the phrase ناهيك عن.
| not to mention / let alone | ناهيك عنnâhîka 'an |
Emphasizing with ناهيك عن
The phrase ناهيك عن translates to "not to mention," "let alone," or "to say nothing of." You use it to bridge two ideas, where the second point proves that the situation is even more intense or demanding than the first point suggests.
It frequently follows verbs of deprivation (like افتقر إلى, "to lack") or descriptions of extreme hardship.
| Her room lacks heating, not to mention electricity. | تفتقر غرفتها إلى التدفئة، ناهيك عن الكهرباء.taftaqiru ghurfatuhâ ilâ at-tadfi'ati, nâhîka 'ani al-kahrabâ'i |
| In this remote forest we lack luxuries, let alone basic food. | في هذه الغابة النائية نفتقر إلى الكماليات، ناهيك عن الطعام الأساسي.fi hâdhihi al-ghâbati an-nâ'iyati naftaqiru ilâ al-kamâliyyâti, nâhika ani at-taâmi al-asâsiyyi. |
What follows ناهيك عن
Because the expression ends with the preposition عن, it must be followed directly by a noun phrase or a verbal noun (masdar).
| There is constant hardship in primitive life, let alone the danger. | في الحياة البدائية عناء دائم، ناهيك عن الخطر.fee al-hayâti al-bidâ'iyyati anâ'un dâ'imun, nâheeka ani al-khatar. |
| The harsh cold is always a problem for Fatima, not to mention the hunger. | البرد القاسي مشكلة دائما بالنسبة لفاطمة، ناهيك عن الجوع.al-bardu al-qâsî mushkilatun dâ'iman bi-n-nisbati li-fâtimata, nâhîka 'ani al-jû'i. |
You can also use it to contrast complex actions by following it with a verbal noun, such as شراء (buying) in the following example:
| There is hardship in preparing food in a primitive way, let alone buying luxuries. | في تجهيز الطعام بطريقة بدائية عناء، ناهيك عن شراء الكماليات.fi tajhîzi at-ta'âmi bitarîqatin bidâ'iyyatin 'anâ'un, nâhîka 'an shirâ'i al-kamâliyyâti. |