ዝም በል
zim bel
The English phrase "shut up" is translated into Amharic as ዝም በል (zim bel).
ዝም በል is used to tell someone to stop talking. It is a blunt command that can be perceived as rude or aggressive depending on the tone of voice used.
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
Which one should you use?
The form used depends on whom you are addressing. Use ዝም በል for a male, ዝም በዪ for a female and ዝም በሉ for multiple people or when using a respectful, polite tone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form ዝም በል is informal. Because it is quite blunt, it can come across as aggressive.
How does it change in a sentence?
Amharic grammar requires changing the verb based on the gender and number of the listener. While ዝም በል is the masculine form, you must use ዝም በዪ when addressing a woman. To address a group or to be polite, use ዝም በሉ. Additionally, you can add the suffix '-ኝ' to create ዝም በልኝ, which specifically means "shut up to me" or "stop talking to me".
How do you pronounce it?
zim bel
Did you know?
- In Ethiopian culture, a long, intentional silence after someone speaks can sometimes be more powerful and 'louder' than saying ዝም በል itself.
- The root word ዝም does not just mean 'shut up' but can describe a wide range of silence, from a peaceful atmosphere to a heavy and awkward tension.
- Using the masculine ዝም በል when addressing a woman is considered a deliberate insult rather than a simple mistake in gender agreement.
Examples in context
- ዝም በል!zim bel!Shut up!
- እባክህ ዝም በል።ibakih zim bel.Please shut up.
- አሁን ዝም በል።ahun zim bel.Shut up now.
Example conversation
A brother and sister are arguing in the living room.
- ቤተልሔም Betelhemዳዊት፣ ዝም በል!Dawit, zim bel!Dawit, shut up!
- ዳዊት Dawitለምን ዝም ልበል?lemin zim libel?Why should I shut up?
- ቤተልሔም Betelhemድምፅህን ከፍ አታድርግ።dimtsihin kef adirg.Don't raise your voice.
- ዳዊት Dawitእሺ፣ ዝም እላለሁ።eshi, zim ilalehu.Okay, I will be quiet.
