The Nazar Amulet: Cultural Meanings & Uses of the Evil Eye

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Plus, other ways to ward off the evil eye

Co-authored by Jennifer McVey, Cht and Devin McSween

Last Updated: January 18, 2025 Fact Checked

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What is “nazar”?

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Nazar Amulet Meaning

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Nazar Amulet Uses

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Nazar Origins

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Other Ways to Ward Off the Evil Eye

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Tips

Nazar is an Arabic word that means “sight” or “surveillance.” It also refers to the curse of the evil eye and the protective charm that wards it off. If you want to learn more about the meaning of nazar, keep reading! In this article, we’ll uncover its significance, origins, and other ways to protect yourself against the evil eye.

Nazar Meaning

In Arabic, nazar means “sight,” “attention,” or “gaze” and refers to the belief in the evil eye, or an envious look that causes bad luck and misfortune. The nazar amulet is a talisman that is thought to protect you from the evil eye. It is a blue, circular shaped charm with an eye shape in the center.

Section 1 of 5:

What is “nazar”?

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Nazar, or نَظَر, is an Arabic word that refers to seeing or looking. For instance, nazar can mean “sight,” “surveillance,” “attention,” “gaze,” or “view.”^{[1]
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Nazar refers to the belief of the evil eye. Many cultures believe in the evil eye, which is a curse or force of negative energy that’s put on you by someone else’s malevolent or hateful gaze. The evil eye is fueled by envy, so if you are hit with it, it’s believed to bring you bad luck or even harm.^{[2]
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- For instance, admiring comments and compliments that are tinged with envy are believed to attract the evil eye.
- Giving the evil eye can be intentional or unintentional.

Section 2 of 5:

Nazar Amulet Meaning

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The nazar amulet is a charm believed to protect you from the evil eye. The nazar amulet, also known as the evil eye, is a circular talisman traditionally made out of glass. It usually has a dark blue background with a white, light blue, and black circle in the center that looks like an eye. The amulet is thought to avert the evil eye’s gaze, protect you against negative energy, and even bring you good luck.^{[3]
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- Nazar beads are a type of amulet that is culturally significant to Turkey. These beads typically have several “eyes” instead of 1.
- Nazar amulets are typically blue because blue is associated with protection, heaven, and godliness in most cultures.
- The nazar amulet is used by people in many different cultures. Some areas have their own name for the amulet:
  - In Turkey, the amulet is called nazar boncuğu.
  - In Iran and Afghanistan, the amulet is called cheshm nazar or nazar qurbāni.
  - In India, the amulet is called buri nazar.
  - In Greece, the amulet is called máti.

Section 3 of 5:

Nazar Amulet Uses

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Nazar amulets are used as jewelry, charms, and decorations. Nazar amulets are often worn as bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings. They are also made into charms or hung up as decorations in houses, buildings, cars, or on trees.^{[4]
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- The nazar is often used as a symbol and hung on doors, woven into textiles, or drawn on posters. You can even send a 🧿 nazar amulet emoji in your texts!
- Nazar amulets are often given to babies when they’re born, as they’re believed to be more vulnerable to the evil eye. They’re also popular gifts for celebrations, like weddings.^{[5]
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Section 4 of 5:

Origins of Nazar and the Evil Eye

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Belief in the evil eye originates in ancient Mesopotamia. Early Mesopotamians believed the evil eye came from demons created by An, the supreme god of the sky. They thought the evil eye led to disease and disaster, so they wore eye-shaped amulets to keep the evil eye away.^{[6]
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- The Mesopotamians also prayed and performed rituals to ward off the evil eye.
- Mesopotamia extended to parts of present-day Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. The evil eye and nazar amulet are very important to these cultures.
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The nazar spread to the Mediterranean, South Asia, and Latin America. The belief in the evil eye and use of the nazar amulet started in the Middle East and spread all over the world. For instance, people in Greece, Italy, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, India, and Mexico view the nazar as culturally significant.^{[7]
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- The evil eye is also mentioned in Islamic, Jewish, and Christian texts, making it important to people who follow these religions, too.

Section 5 of 5:

Other Ways to Ward Off the Evil Eye

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Say a protective phrase after complimenting someone. In many cultures, it’s common practice to say a certain phrase after praising someone or giving out a compliment to ward off the evil eye’s attention. For instance:^{[8]
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- In Turkey and Arabic-speaking countries, people say “Mashallah,” which means “God has willed it.”
- Jewish people often say the Yiddish phrase “Keyn aynhoreh” to redirect the evil eye’s gaze, which translates to “No evil eye.”
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Wear a hamsa hand talisman. The hamsa hand is a hand-shaped amulet with an eye in the center of the palm. Like the nazar amulet, the hamsa hand is believed to protect you against the evil eye as well as ward off negativity and bad luck.^{[9]
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- The hamsa hand is often worn as jewelry, hung up as a talisman in homes, or printed on tapestries.
- The hamsa hand is used in many cultures throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
- The hamsa hand is also significant to Islam and Judaism. In Islam, it is known as the Hand of Fatima while in Judaism, it is called the Hand of Miriam.
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Put on a red ribbon. Red is associated with good luck, good fortune, and protection in Jewish cultures, areas of Eastern Europe, and India. So, in these areas it’s common practice to place a red ribbon or cord around your wrist or neck to repel the evil eye.^{[10]
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- It’s most common to put red ribbons on babies, as they are seen as being the most vulnerable to the evil eye.
Certain patterns on Turkish rugs, called kilim, are believed to ward off the evil eye. For instance, cross (haç), hook (çengel), eye (göz), and triangular (muska) motifs are thought to redirect, repel, and destroy the evil eye’s gaze.^{[11]
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Place garlic or salt in your pocket. In many cultures around the world, people carry cloves of garlic or leave them under their beds to repel the evil eye and negativity. It’s also common practice to place a packet of salt in your pocket or spread salt in front of your doorway to ward off the evil eye.^{[12]
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- Garlic and salt are also often used to repel evil spirits and witches.^{[13]
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Wear a cornicello or sign of the horns charm. Many Italians wear certain charms to protect themselves from the evil eye.^{[14]
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- It’s also common practice to make the sign of the horns with your hand after giving a compliment if you don’t have a charm to wear.
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Spit after complimenting someone. Another way to distract the envious evil eye after giving praise or a compliment is to spit. People in many cultures believe making this normally offensive or rude gesture neutralizes the evil eye and brings you protection.^{[16]
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- It’s also common practice in some cultures to use uncomplimentary words when praising someone to repel the evil eye. It’s thought that insulting words negate the compliment and don’t draw the evil eye’s attention.
  - For instance, you might sweetly call a friend or family member “ugly” when you’re actually complimenting them on the opposite!

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People believe that when your nazar amulet breaks, it’s a sign that negative energy was sent your way and the charm did its job protecting you from it. So, it’s a good idea to get a new amulet quickly.

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In many cultures, people damage a small part of their home, like scratching the door or cutting a rug, to ward off the evil eye. It’s believed that slight imperfections distract the evil eye.

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Because children are thought to be especially vulnerable to the evil eye, it’s a cultural practice in many areas to avoid looking or staring at children.

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