Ways to say it
| Egyptian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| اسكت | iskot | to a man, blunt |
| اسكتي | iskoti | to a woman, blunt |
اسكت is a blunt, rude command when said sharply to a stranger, though among close friends and siblings it is often used half-jokingly without real anger.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb comes from يسكت, 'to be quiet, to stop talking'.
Which one should you use?
A gentler way to ask someone to stop talking is خلاص بقى, 'that's enough now', which pushes back without being as harsh.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
اسكت is informal and can sound rude or aggressive, it is not appropriate with strangers, elders or in professional settings.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word and its blunt tone are consistent across Egypt.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine command adds an -i ending, اسكتي, and the plural is اسكتوا (iskotu).
How do you pronounce it?
Said 'IS-kot', with a firm, short final syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying this to someone you do not know well can come across as genuinely offensive, not playful.
When do people say it?
Between close friends, اسكت بقى said with a laugh is common and not meant seriously, tone of voice makes the difference.
Did you know?
- Softer phrases like خلاص بقى are preferred in polite company precisely because اسكت can land as a genuine insult rather than a casual request.
Examples in context
- اسكت، الناس بتسمعك.iskot, el-nas betisma'ak.Shut up, people can hear you.
- اسكتي بقى، كفاية كلام.iskoti ba'a, kefaya kalam.Shut up already, enough talk.
- قالله اسكت وما رد عليه.'allo iskot w ma raddesh aleih.He told him to shut up and didn't reply to him.
Example conversation
Two brothers, Adel and Tamer, argue playfully during a card game.
- Adelأنا هكسبك دلوقتي، استعد.ana hakasbak dilwa'ti, est'idd.I'm going to beat you now, get ready.
- Tamerاسكت بقى، لسه الجولة الأولى.iskot ba'a, lissa el-gawla el-oola.Shut up already, it's still the first round.
- Adelطيب خلينا نشوف.tayyib khalleena neshoof.Ok, let's see.
- Tamerأنا اللي كسبت، شايف؟ana elli kasabt, shayef?I'm the one who won, see?
