اسكت
uskut
To keep quiet in Arabic, you say اسكت (uskut).
The word اسكت is an imperative used as a command to tell someone to be quiet right now.
Meaning: remain silent (verb)
Which one should you use?
While اسكت is a direct command, الزم الصمت is a much more formal and polite way to express the idea of remaining silent.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
اسكت is an informal and direct command. Depending on your tone, it can sound blunt or even rude, similar to telling someone to "shut up" in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
The command changes its form depending on whom you are addressing: use اسكتي when speaking to a female and اسكتوا when addressing a group of people.
How do you pronounce it?
uskut
Did you know?
- In some regional dialects, the phrase سد حنكك is used instead of اسكت, which literally translates to 'close your jaw'.
- The word اسكت can be used sarcastically in a conversation to mean 'I cannot believe you just said that', without actually requiring the other person to stop talking.
- The formal version الزم الصمت literally translates to 'adhere to the silence', treating silence as a physical object or a state that one must strictly follow.
Examples in context
- اسكت الآن من فضلك.uskut al-aan min fadlak.Keep quiet now, please.
- اسكت، هناك طفل نائم.uskut, hunaka tifl na'im.Keep quiet, there is a sleeping baby.
Example conversation
In a library where Yusuf is talking too loudly.
- مريم Maryamيوسف، من فضلك اسكت.Yusuf, min fadlak uskut.Yusuf, please keep quiet.
- يوسف Youssefأنا آسف يا مريم.Ana asif ya Maryam.I am sorry, Maryam.
- مريم Maryamالجميع يدرس هنا.Al-jami' yadrusu huna.Everyone is studying here.
- يوسف Youssefسأكون هادئاً الآن.Sa-akunu hadi'an al-aan.I will be quiet now.
