ስቕ በል
siq bel
The English phrase "shut up" is translated into Tigrinya as ስቕ በል (siq bel).
The phrase is used to command someone to stop talking. It is an interjection that can be perceived as blunt, rude or aggressive depending on the tone used by the speaker.
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ስቕ በል literally translates to "be silent". It is composed of the adjective ስቕ (siq), meaning "silent" and the verb በል (bel), meaning "say" or "do".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The default form ስቕ በል is informal. Because it is blunt, it can be perceived as aggressive or rude.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the verb changes depending on whom you are addressing. Use ስቕ በሊ to address a female, and use ስቕ በሉ to address a group of people or to use a more formal plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
siq bel
Did you know?
- The word በል used in ስቕ በል is the same verb used to tell someone to 'eat' in certain contexts, though its meaning as 'do' or 'say' prevails here.
- Tigrinya uses a unique script called Ge'ez, which is an abugida, meaning each character represents a consonant and a vowel together rather than separate letters.
- If you use the plural form ስቕ በሉ to a single person as a way of being 'extra' polite, it will likely backfire and sound patronizing or sarcastic.
Examples in context
- ስቕ በል!siq bel!Shut up!
Example conversation
Samuel is talking too much during a movie.
- ሰላም Selamሳሚኤል ስቕ በል።samiel siq bel.Samuel, shut up.
- ሳሚኤል Samuelስለምንታይ?slemintay?Why?
- ሰላም Selamፊልም ክንርእይ ክንደሊ።film kinreiy kindeli.I want to watch the movie.
- ሳሚኤል Samuelብጽቡቕ ስቕ በለኹ።bitsubuq siq belekhu.Okay, I am shutting up.
