Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| سكت | sekket | to a man |
| سكتي | sekti | to a woman |
| سكت بركا | sekket brka | stronger, "just shut up" |
Adding بركا, 'enough', makes it stronger: سكت بركا (sekket brka), close to 'just shut up already'. This is a blunt command and comes across as rude in most settings.
What does it mean word for word?
سكت comes from the verb سكت, 'to be silent'. بركا is a Darija word for 'enough' or 'stop'.
Which one should you use?
سكت alone is already quite direct. Adding بركا makes it noticeably ruder and more irritated.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase is rude and informal. It would be inappropriate with a stranger, an elder or in any professional setting.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word and its use as a sharp command are shared across Morocco without notable regional variation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending changes with the listener: sekket to a man, sekti to a woman, sekto to a group.
How do you pronounce it?
سكت is a short, clipped command, 'SEK-ket', often said sharply.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Learners should be careful using this with anyone outside very close, informal relationships, since it can sound genuinely offensive rather than playful.
When do people say it?
Among close friends or siblings, سكت can be said half-jokingly during teasing, but the same word directed at a stranger or elder would be taken as a real insult.
Did you know?
- بركا, meaning 'enough', is used across Morocco to sharpen many commands, not only سكت, turning a request into a demand.
- The same root سكت gives the Darija word for 'silence' used in more formal or written contexts, even though the command itself is blunt.
Examples in context
- سكت، خاصني نركز.sekket, khassni nrekkez.Shut up, I need to focus.
- سكتي بركا، ما بقيتي كتسمعي.sekti brka, ma bqitish katsem3i.Just be quiet already, you're not listening.
- سكتوا جميعا، الفيلم بدا.sektu jmi3an, l-film bda.Everyone be quiet, the movie started.
Example conversation
Siblings Nouredine and his younger brother Zakaria argue over the television remote.
- Nouredineسكت بركا، كنشوف فيلم.sekket brka, kanshuf film.Shut up already, I'm watching a movie.
- Zakariaنتا لي خاصك تسكت!nta li khassk tsekket!You're the one who should shut up!
- Nouredineخلينا نشوفو بهدوء، عافاك.khellina nshufo b-hdu, afak.Let us watch in peace, please.
- Zakariaواخا، واخا، سكتت.wakha, wakha, sekkett.Fine, fine, I am quiet.
