توقف عن ذلك
tawaqqaf 'an dhalik
The English phrase "stop it" can be translated into Arabic as توقف عن ذلك (tawaqqaf 'an dhalik).
The phrase is a command used to tell someone to end an annoying or unwanted action. The default form توقف عن ذلك is standard Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and is appropriate for written or formal spoken contexts.
What does it mean word for word?
This phrase is composed of the verb tawaqqaf (stop), the preposition an (from/about) and the demonstrative pronoun dhalik (that).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a polite, formal way to say "Please stop", use يرجى التوقف. If you want to use a more formal, classical way to command someone to cease an action or behavior, use كفى. For informal situations, you can use خلّص to mean "stop" or "enough".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In many Arabic dialects, the single syllable بس! is a very common, informal way to say "stop it" or "enough!"
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a female, the verb changes from the masculine tawaqqaf to the feminine توقفي عن ذلك.
How do you pronounce it?
tawaqqaf 'an dhalik
Did you know?
- In some Levantine dialects, the word بس can also mean 'but', making the context of the sentence essential to know if the speaker is saying 'stop it' or 'however'.
- The word ذلك is actually a combination of three separate linguistic elements: a demonstrative 'this', a preposition 'to' and a pronoun 'you'.
- The root of the verb توقف implies a reflexive action of stopping oneself, rather than an external force stopping something else.
Examples in context
- توقف عن ذلك فوراً.tawaqqaf 'an dhalika fawran.Stop it immediately.
- أرجوك توقف عن ذلك.arjuk tawaqqaf 'an dhalika.Please stop it.
- توقف عن ذلك، أنت تزعجني.tawaqqaf 'an dhalika, anta tuz'ijuni.Stop it, you are annoying me.
Example conversation
Ahmed is making loud noises while Nour is trying to study.
- نور Nourأحمد، توقف عن ذلك من فضلك.Ahmed, tawaqaf 'an dhalik min fadlak.Ahmed, stop it please.
- أحمد Ahmedأنا فقط أمزح معكِ يا نور.Ana faqat amzah ma'aki ya Nour.I am just joking with you, Nour.
- نور Nourلكنني أحاول التركيز في دراستي.Lakinnani uhawil al-tarkiz fi dirasati.But I am trying to focus on my studies.
- أحمد Ahmedحسناً، سأصمت الآن.Hasanan, sa-asmut al-aan.Okay, I will be quiet now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries توقف, ذلك, عن, CC BY-SA 4.0.
