اغلق فمك
ighliq famak
The English phrase "close your mouth" is translated into Arabic as اغلق فمك (ighliq famak).
This phrase is a command telling someone to shut their mouth, and it is often used to tell someone to stop talking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase اغلق فمك is composed of the verb ighliq (close) and the noun fam (mouth) with the possessive suffix -ak (your).
Which one should you use?
While اغلق فمك is a literal command to shut the mouth, the word uskut is a much more common, blunt way to say "shut up" in Arabic.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase يُرجى إغلاق الفم means "please close your mouth" and is formal. On the other hand, اخرس is an informal way to say "shut up" and uskut is considered informal/rude.
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperative form changes to اغلقي فمك (ighliqī famaki) when addressing a female, and use the plural form اغلقوا أفواهكم (ighliqū afwāhakum) to tell a group of people to close their mouths.
How do you pronounce it?
ighliq famak
Did you know?
- In many Arabic dialects, if you want to tell someone to be quiet without being quite so aggressive as using اخرس, you might say سد حلقك, which literally translates to 'plug your throat'.
- The root letters of اغلق (close) are also used in words for 'locking' a door or 'sealing' a vessel, making the command to shut one's mouth sound like a physical seal.
- The plural form of the mouth in this command, أفواه, is a 'broken plural' rather than a regular one. This means the internal structure of the word changes rather than just adding a suffix.
Examples in context
- اغلق فمك الآن!Ighliq famaka al-an!Close your mouth now!
- اغلق فمك ولا تتحدث.Ighliq famaka wa la tatahaddath.Close your mouth and do not talk.
Example conversation
Maryam is annoyed by Ahmed's constant talking.
- مريم Maryamأنت تتحدث كثيراً يا أحمد.Anta tatahaddath kathiran ya Ahmad.You are talking too much, Ahmad.
- أحمد Ahmedأنا فقط أخبرك بالقصة!Ana faqat ukhbiruki bil-qissa!I am just telling you the story!
- مريم Maryamاغلق فمك، أريد الهدوء.Ighliq famaka, ureedu al-hudu'.Close your mouth, I want some quiet.
- أحمد Ahmedحسناً، سأصمت الآن.Hasanan, sa-asmut al-aan.Okay, I will be quiet now.
