Yaşar Nabi Nayır was born on 25 December 1908 in Üsküp, the capital of North Macedonia, to Nabi Bey and Nigar Hanım. He lost his father at an early age, when he was only four years old. Due to the Balkan Wars, he and his mother were forced to move constantly between Istanbul and Üsküp, and thus completed his primary education at various schools. These schools included Kadıköy Osmangazi Primary School, Torosyan Armenian School, Üsküp İrfan Mektebi, and Üsküp Fransız Okulu. In 1924, his family settled permanently in Istanbul. In 1929, he graduated from the commerce and banking division of Galatasaray High School. Financial difficulties prevented him from continuing his higher education.

Yaşar Nabi Nayır began his artistic life by writing poetry. His first poem was published in the magazine Çocuk Dünyası at the encouragement of his high school literature teacher, and later in 1926 in the magazine Servet-i Fünun.

In 1928, he gained recognition in literary circles through the group Yedi Meşale, which he co-founded with six friends. The members of this group were Ziya Osman Saba, Cevdet Kudret Solok, Sabri Esat Siyavuşgil, Muammer Lütfi Bahşi, Vasfi Mahir Kocatürk, and Kenan Hulusi Koray. In 1928, the group published a joint poetry collection titled Yedi Meşale, focusing primarily on personal emotions and impressions under the influence of French symbolism. However, the group disbanded after eight months.

Between 1929 and 1933, he worked as a banker at the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank. From 1934 to 1940, he worked as a translator and writer for the newspaper Hakimiyeti Milliye. From 1940 to 1943, he served at the Turkish Language Association, and from 1943 to 1946, he worked at the Translation Bureau of the Ministry of National Education. In 1946, he left public service to devote himself entirely to publishing.

In collaboration with Nahit Sırrı Örik, he began publishing Varlık Dergisi in Ankara on 15 July 1933. In 1946, he moved the magazine to Istanbul. Nayır continued its editorial work without interruption until his death in 1981, a period of 48 years. This magazine is regarded as the longest-running publication in Turkish literature. In 1946, he founded Varlık Yayınevi.

Through the publishing house, he produced over a thousand books, establishing a distinguished literary library. In 1950, he briefly published a political humor magazine titled Meydan. He also published 29 issues of Cep Dergisi between 1966 and 1969, featuring selections from contemporary world literature, and introduced Varlık Yıllıkları to readers between 1960 and 1981.

Thanks to Varlık magazine and its publications, Nayır enabled the emergence of many young writers and poets. He translated works from French, including those of Panait Istrati and Balzac. He was the first person to translate the works of Romanian writer Panait Istrati into book form and introduce him to Turkish readers. He also played a role in bringing international artists such as Cengiz Aytmatov, Kırımlı Cengiz Dağcı, and Kıbrıslı Özker Yaşın into the Turkish literary sphere.

In recognition of his valuable contributions to Turkish cultural life, he was awarded the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Grand Prize in 1979. He served as president of the Turkish PEN Writers Association for a period. Today, the “Varlık Dergisi Yaşar Nabi Nayır Youth Awards” are still presented in his name. After moving away from poetry, he turned to prose and produced works in the genres of novel, short story, play, essay, and research. Under the pseudonym Muzaffer Reşit, he compiled and edited over sixty anthologies and introductory books.

• Poetry: Yedi Meşale (Collective Book, 1928), Kahramanlar (1929, 1970), Onar Mısra (1931/1932), Mesafeler.
• Novel: Bir Kadın Söylüyor (or Bir Kadın Yalan Söylüyor, 1931), Adem Ve Havva (1932).
• Short Story: Bu Da Bir Hikayedir (1935), Sevi Çıkmazı (1935).
• Play (Theater): Mete (Verse, 1933), İnkılap Çocukları (Verse, 1933), Beş Devir (Verse, 1933), Köyün Namusu (Prose, 1933), Radyofonik Öyküler (1979).
• Essay/Article (Intellectual Works): Balkanlar Ve Türklük (1936), Edebiyatımızın Bugünkü Meseleleri (1937), Nereye Gidiyoruz (1948), Atatürkçülük Nedir? (1963).
• Biography: Ahmet Haşim (1952), Ömer Seyfettin (1952), Tevfik Fikret (1952), Homeros (1952), Moliere (1953).

Yaşar Nabi Nayır died on 15 March 1981 in Istanbul due to gastric hemorrhage and was buried at Zincirlikuyu Cemetery. In 1982, a work titled Yaşar Nabi'ye Saygı was published in his memory.