dákẹ́
To keep quiet in Yoruba is to say dákẹ́.
The verb dákẹ́ is used to mean remain silent.
Meaning: remain silent (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word dákẹ́ literally means to cease or stop making sound/speech.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using dákẹ́ as a single-word imperative can sound like a sharp command to shut up depending on the tone and context.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say someone is being quiet, use the pronoun ó (he/she) followed by the verb: ó dákẹ́ (he/she keeps quiet). To address more than one person or to show respect to a single person, you add the pronoun ẹ before the verb: ẹ dákẹ́ (you (plural/polite) keep quiet).
Did you know?
- In Yoruba culture, telling an older person to dákẹ́ is considered a grave insult. To request silence from an elder, one must use indirect language or a softer plea to avoid appearing disrespectful.
- Yoruba is a tonal language, meaning a slight change in the pitch of dákẹ́ can change its meaning entirely. A misplaced tone could turn a command to 'be quiet' into a completely different, unrelated word.
- The concept of 'keeping quiet' in Yoruba can extend to 'keeping a secret', where the act of not speaking is a way of protecting the community or family honor.
Examples in context
- Ẹ dákẹ́ jẹ́ kí á sùn.Please keep quiet so we can sleep.
- Dákẹ́ níbi tí ẹni ń sọ̀rọ̀.Keep quiet where someone is speaking.
Example conversation
Babatunde and Morenike are in a library.
- MorenikeBabatunde, jọ̀wọ́ dákẹ́.Babatunde, please keep quiet.
- BabatundeṢé mo n sọ̀rọ̀?Am I talking?
- MorenikeBẹ́ẹ̀ ni, o n sọ̀rọ̀ gidi.Yes, you are talking a lot.
- BabatundeÓ dára, n ó dákẹ́.Alright, I will keep quiet.
