چپ
chup
To shush in Urdu, use چپ (chup).
The word چپ is used to tell someone to be quiet. It functions as a command, but depending on your tone, it can sound quite blunt or rude.
Meaning: To be quiet (verb)
Which one should you use?
While چپ is a direct way to say hush or shh, you can use the phrase خاموش رہیں if you want to be more polite or formal when asking someone to be quiet.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
چپ is an informal way to say shush. For formal situations, such as when addressing individuals who are older or in positions of authority, use the phrase براہ کرم خاموش رہیں.
How does it change in a sentence?
To make the command more complete, you can add the verb for stay or remain to create the phrase چپ رہو, which means stay quiet.
How do you pronounce it?
chup
Did you know?
- In Urdu poetry, the concept of چپ is often used as a metaphor for the profound silence of a lover or the stillness of the soul during meditation.
- The formal alternative خاموش shares a root with the Persian word for silence, reflecting the deep influence of Persian on the Urdu courtly language.
- In some dialects, adding the word ہوش to a command for silence changes the meaning to 'come to your senses'.
Examples in context
- چپ ہو جاؤ۔chup ho jao.Be quiet.
- براہِ کرم، تھوڑی دیر کے لیے چپ رہیں۔barah-e-karam, thori der ke liye chup rahein.Please be quiet for a while.
- وہ چپ نہیں ہو رہی۔woh chup nahi ho rahi.She is not being quiet.
Example conversation
A library where Omar is trying to study.
- عمر Omarزینب، پلیز چپ رہو۔Zainab, please chup raho.Zainab, please be quiet.
- زینب Zainabمعذرت، میں خاموش ہو جاتی ہوں۔Maazrat, mein khamosh ho jati hoon.Sorry, I will be quiet.
- عمر Omarشکریہ، مجھے پڑھنا ہے۔Shukria, mujhe parhna hai.Thank you, I need to study.
- زینب Zainabٹھیک ہے، میں بالکل چپ رہوں گی۔Theek hai, mein bilkul chup rahoon gi.Okay, I will be completely quiet.
