اخرس
ikhras
In Arabic, "shut your mouth" is said as اخرس (ikhras).
اخرس is a rude command used to tell someone to stop talking immediately.
Which one should you use?
The form اخرس is extremely aggressive and insulting. If you wish to be slightly less offensive while still telling someone to be quiet or shut up, you can use اسكت.
How does it change in a sentence?
The command changes depending on who you are addressing: use اخرسي when speaking to a female and اخرسوا when speaking to a group.
How do you pronounce it?
ikhras
Did you know?
- Unlike English, where 'shut your mouth' is a phrase involving a body part, اخرس is a single verb. There is no literal mention of a 'mouth' or 'closing' in the word itself.
- The root of اخرس is linked to the word for 'mute' or 'dumb' in Arabic. Using this command does not just tell someone to be quiet, but effectively tells them to become physically incapable of speech.
- While اخرس is an aggressive command, Arabic speakers sometimes use it jokingly between very close friends. In these specific contexts, the insult is flipped into a sign of intimacy.
Examples in context
- "لا يستطيعون أن يعتقلوني." "اخرس! لم تر شيئا بعد. بإمكان هؤلاء الأوغاد أن يعتقلوك و يسجنوك لمدّة لا يعلمها إلا الله، و عذّبوك و يهينوك و يغتصبوك و يقتلونك بطلقة في الرّأس ثمّ يدفنوك في مكان أين لا أحد بإمكانه العثور عليك.""They can't arrest me." "Shut your mouth! You haven't seen anything yet. Those bastards can arrest you, detain you for God knows how long, torture you, humiliate you, rape you, shoot you in the head, then bury you where no one could ever find you."This example shows how اخرس is used as a harsh, aggressive interruption in a heated conversation.Tatoeba #7294220 by OsoHombre, translation #6447717 by OsoHombre
- اخرس! أنا أتحدث الآن.Ikhras! Ana atahaddath al-aan.Shut your mouth! I am speaking now.
- اخرس يا هذا، أنت مزعج جداً.Ikhras ya hadha, anta muz'ij jiddan.Shut your mouth, you are being very annoying.
Example conversation
Ziad is arguing with Sarah during a heated disagreement.
- سارة Saraأنت لا تفهم شيئاً في هذا الموضوع.anta la tafham shay'an fi hadha al-mawdu'.You don't understand anything about this topic.
- زياد Ziadاخرس! لقد سئمت من صراخك.ukhrus! laqad sa'imtu min surakhiki.Shut your mouth! I am tired of your screaming.
- سارة Saraكيف تجرؤ على مخاطبتي بهذه الطريقة؟kayfa tajru'u 'ala mukhatabati bi hadhihi al-tariqah?How dare you speak to me this way?
- زياد Ziadلأنكِ لا تتوقفين عن الكلام.li'annaki la tatawaqqafina 'an al-kalam.Because you won't stop talking.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
