خاموش رہو
khamosh raho
The English phrase 'shut up' is expressed in Urdu as خاموش رہو (khamosh raho).
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to stop talking.
Which one should you use?
While خاموش رہو is a descriptive way to tell someone to be quiet, چپ کرو is a more blunt and common way to say 'shut up' during casual or heated conversations. For a more polite way to say 'be quiet' or to address an elder, use خاموش رہیں instead of خاموش رہو. Additionally, the phrase زبان بند کرو can be used to literally mean 'Keep your tongue shut.'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form خاموش رہو is suitable for friends or people of equal status. In contrast, چپ کرو and زبان بند کرو are considered informal. To maintain politeness or show respect to an elder, use the form خاموش رہیں.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form خاموش رہو uses the second-person plural/informal imperative.
How do you pronounce it?
khamosh raho
Did you know?
- In Urdu poetry, the concept of خاموشی or 'silence' is often romanticized as a symbol of spiritual longing or deep wisdom rather than just a lack of speech.
- In Urdu culture, the shift from رہو to رہیں is not just about grammar, but is a strict social requirement to avoid appearing arrogant or rude to elders.
- The word خاموش is actually a Persian loanword, meaning 'silent' or 'quiet' in its original Classical Persian context.
Examples in context
- خاموش رہو!khamosh raho!Shut up!
- تم خاموش رہو اور سنو۔tum khamosh raho aur suno.You shut up and listen.
Example conversation
Two siblings are arguing loudly in the living room.
- عمر Omarخاموش رہو، فاطمہ!khamosh raho, Fatima!Shut up, Fatima!
- فاطمہ Fatimaمیں خاموش کیوں رہوں؟mein khamosh kyun rahoon?Why should I shut up?
- عمر Omarکیونکہ میں شور سے پریشان ہوں۔kyunke mein shor se pareshan hoon.Because I am annoyed by the noise.
- فاطمہ Fatimaٹھیک ہے، میں خاموش رہتی ہوں۔theek hai, mein khamosh rehti hoon.Fine, I will be quiet.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries خاموش, CC BY-SA 4.0.
