Ways to say it
| Syrian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| اسكت | iskot | to a man |
| اسكتي | iskoti | to a woman |
اسكت/اسكتي is a direct, blunt command, used among close friends and siblings as a sharp joke or, in a serious tone, as a genuinely rude thing to say.
What does it mean word for word?
اسكت is the imperative form of the verb meaning 'to be silent', with the ending changing for who is being told to stop talking.
Which one should you use?
Said lightly between close friends, it can be almost playful. Said sharply or to a stranger or elder, it is rude and should be avoided.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
This phrase has no polite version, it is informal and blunt by nature. There is no softened form for formal situations, since asking politely for quiet uses a completely different phrase.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word and its gendered forms are shared across the Levant.
How does it change in a sentence?
The ending ي marks a woman being addressed, the same pattern seen in لو سمحتي and تصبحي على خير.
How do you pronounce it?
The s in اسكت is a plain, clear s sound, with stress on the first syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using اسكت with someone older or with a stranger is genuinely rude in Syrian culture, not a harmless joke the way it might sound among friends.
When do people say it?
Among Syrian siblings and close friends, اسكت is often said half-joking during an argument over something trivial, without real anger behind it.
Did you know?
- اسكت is direct enough that Syrians reserve a completely different phrase, built from من فضلك, for politely asking someone for quiet.
- Between close friends and siblings, اسكت is often used half-jokingly during a friendly argument, without carrying real offense.
Examples in context
- اسكت، عم تحكي كتير!iskot, amm thki ktir!Shut up, you're talking too much!
- اسكتي شوي، الفيلم عم يبلش.iskoti shwayy, el-film amm yballesh.Be quiet for a moment, the movie is starting.
- اسكت، ما في شي مضحك.iskot, ma fi shi mudhek.Shut up, there's nothing funny.
Example conversation
Two brothers, Nabil and Wael, argue playfully while watching a match.
- Nabilاسكت، عم تحكي طول الوقت!iskot, amm thki tul el-waqt!Shut up, you're talking the whole time!
- Waelليش، عم شرحلك اللعبة بس.lesh, amm sharhlak el-lu3be bass.Why, I'm just explaining the game to you.
- Nabilبعرفها أحسن منك.ba3rafha ahsan minnak.I know it better than you.
- Waelطيب طيب، اسكت أنا.tayyeb tayyeb, iskot ana.Okay okay, I'll be quiet.
