शांत रहो
shaant raho
The Hindi phrase for "be quiet" is शांत रहो (shaant raho).
This phrase is used as a request or command for someone to stop making noise.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the adjective शांत (shaant) meaning "quiet/calm" and the verb रहो (raho) meaning "stay/be".
Which one should you use?
While शांत रहो means "be quiet", the phrase चुप रहो is often perceived as more blunt or rude, similar to the difference between saying "be quiet" and "shut up" in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
You can modify the verb to change the level of respect or intimacy. To make the command more polite or to address someone with respect, use शांत रहिए instead of शांत रहो. For a highly informal or intimate version used with very close friends or children, use शांत रह. Additionally, the colloquial expression शांत बैठो। can be used to mean "Be silent" or "Sit quietly."
How do you pronounce it?
shaant raho
Did you know?
- While शांत means 'quiet', it is also the root of the word शांति (shaanti), which represents the profound concept of 'peace' and is a common name for people and places in India.
- The word शांत is a learned borrowing from the Sanskrit word शान्त, which combined a root meaning 'to quiet' with a specific suffix to create a state of being.
- In many Indian contexts, telling someone to शांत बैठो (sit quietly) is often a more common way to request silence than asking them to simply 'be' quiet.
Examples in context
- शांत रहो। कक्षा के दौरान बात मत करो।Be quiet. Don't talk in class.This sentence shows how to use शांत रहो when telling someone not to talk in class.Tatoeba #2077911 by sabretou, translation #272036 by CK
- कृपया शांत रहो।kripaya shaant raho.Please be quiet.
- जब मैं बोलूँ, तब शांत रहो।jab main boloon, tab shaant raho.Be quiet when I speak.
Example conversation
Anjali and Aditya are in a library.
- अंजलि Anjaliआदित्य, कृपया शांत रहो।Aditya, kripaya shaant raho.Aditya, please be quiet.
- आदित्य Adityaठीक है, अंजलि।theek hai, Anjali.Okay, Anjali.
- अंजलि Anjaliयहाँ बहुत शोर है।yahaan bahut shor hai.It is very noisy here.
- आदित्य Adityaमाफ़ करना, अब मैं शांत रहूँगा।maaf karna, ab main shaant rahoonga.Sorry, I will be quiet now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries शांत, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
