Questions & Answers about این رمز نامعتبر نیست.
How does the prefix nâ- work in the word نامعتبر?
The prefix نا- (nâ-) is used to make the negative or opposite form of an adjective, similar to English prefixes like "un-", "in-", or "ir-". Here, it attaches to معتبر (mo'tabar, meaning "valid" or "credible") to create نامعتبر (nâ-mo'tabar), meaning "invalid".
The sentence translates to "is not invalid", using both نامعتبر and نیست. Is this double negative common in Farsi?
Yes, just like in English, you can use a double negative to emphasize a positive state or express a nuance. Saying نامعتبر نیست (is not invalid) logically means it is valid (معتبر است), but using the double negative often adds a reassuring or clarifying tone, especially if someone just assumed the password was wrong.
Doesn't رمز usually mean "secret"? How do we know it means "password" here?
While رمز (ramz) historically means "secret" or "mystery", in modern day-to-day contexts like technology, computing, and banking, it is the standard word for "password" or "PIN code". The context of a code being checked for validity (معتبر) strongly signals this modern meaning.
Can I use the نا- prefix with any adjective to make it negative?
Not with every adjective, though it is very common. While نا- often attaches to native Persian roots (like نادرست for "incorrect"), this sentence shows it can also seamlessly attach to Arabic loanwords like معتبر. However, some adjectives require different negative prefixes like (without) or the separate word (non-), so it is best to learn these negative forms as set vocabulary words.