What does the word Nafs mean in the Qur’an?

In the Qur'an the Arabic word al-nafs has been used with two meanings. The first indicates the self: "And remember your Rabb inside your-self" [Qur'an, al-A'raf 7:205]

Secondly, the word nafs has been referred to as a specific part of our self which represents worldly desire, lust, anger, greed, ego and other blameworthy traits. Even though it is not part of our physical body, the nafs is part of our physical self. Some scholars refer to it as the carnal self or the egotistic self, as Allah mentions: "Verily the self ever commands to do evil" [Qur'an, Yusuf 12:53]