Phrase in 30 Seconds
A standard, polite way to ask a group or a respected individual to be quiet in Persian.
- Means: 'Please be quiet' or 'Stay silent' in a formal/plural context.
- Used in: Classrooms, libraries, meetings, or when addressing strangers politely.
- Don't confuse: With 'khafe sho' (shut up), which is extremely rude and aggressive.
Explication à ton niveau :
Signification
A command to stop making noise.
Contexte culturel
In Iranian schools, the 'shush' is often accompanied by a rhythmic clapping or a specific 'Hees' sound that is much longer than the English 'shh'. In Dari Persian, 'Chup bāshed' (چپ باشید) is often used alongside or instead of 'Sāket bāshid'. It carries the same meaning but 'Chup' is more common in certain regions. Tajik Persian often uses 'Tinch' (tinch boshed) which is influenced by Turkic languages, though 'Sāket' is understood in formal contexts. During the 'Khutbah' (sermon) of Friday prayers, silence is not just polite but a religious requirement. Signs will often say 'Sokut rā re'āyat farmāyid'.
The 'Lotfan' Rule
Always add 'Lotfan' (please) before or after 'Sāket bāshid' to avoid sounding like an angry drill sergeant.
Avoid 'Khafe sho'
Even if you are very angry, 'Khafe sho' is considered very low-class. Stick to 'Sāket bāsh' or 'Harf nazan'.
The 'Lotfan' Rule
Always add 'Lotfan' (please) before or after 'Sāket bāshid' to avoid sounding like an angry drill sergeant.
Avoid 'Khafe sho'
Even if you are very angry, 'Khafe sho' is considered very low-class. Stick to 'Sāket bāsh' or 'Harf nazan'.
Body Language
In Iran, putting your index finger over your lips while saying 'Hees' is the standard non-verbal accompaniment.
Singular vs Plural
When in doubt, use the plural 'bāshid'. It is always safer and more polite in Persian culture.
Teste-toi
You are a teacher addressing a noisy class. Which phrase is most appropriate?
بچهها، لطفا __________.
Since you are addressing a group ('بچهها'), you must use the plural imperative 'باشید'.
Complete the sentence to ask someone politely to be quiet in a library.
ببخشید آقا، ممکن است لطفا اینجا __________؟
In a library, the expected behavior is to be quiet (ساکت باشید).
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Match: 1. ساکت باشید 2. خفه شو 3. هیس
Sāket bāshid is for groups/formal, Khafe sho is rude, and Hees is the 'shh' sound.
Complete the dialogue between a nurse and a visitor.
Nurse: لطفا در بیمارستان __________. Visitor: چشم، حتما.
Hospitals require silence for the patients' comfort.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Where to be Sāket
Public
- • Library
- • Cinema
- • Mosque
Professional
- • Meeting
- • Office
- • Court
Emergency
- • Hospital
- • Exam Hall
Banque d exercices
5 exercicesبچهها، لطفا __________.
Since you are addressing a group ('بچهها'), you must use the plural imperative 'باشید'.
ببخشید آقا، ممکن است لطفا اینجا __________؟
In a library, the expected behavior is to be quiet (ساکت باشید).
Match: 1. ساکت باشید 2. خفه شو 3. هیس
Sāket bāshid is for groups/formal, Khafe sho is rude, and Hees is the 'shh' sound.
Nurse: لطفا در بیمارستان __________. Visitor: چشم، حتما.
Hospitals require silence for the patients' comfort.
🎉 Score : /5
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it is the standard polite way to ask for silence. However, your tone of voice matters a lot.
It's better to use a more indirect request like 'Bebakhshid, mishe lotfan kami sokut rā re'āyat konid?' unless you are managing a meeting.
'Sāket' is for people and environments. 'Khāmush' is more poetic or used for turning off lights/engines.
You can say 'Sāket bāsh' (singular) or just 'Hees!'.
Yes, 'Sedā nade' (don't give sound) is a bit more casual.
'Bāshid' is the imperative (command) form, while 'hastid' is the indicative (statement) form.
'Sokut' is the noun for 'silence'. 'Sāket' is the adjective 'silent'.
Yes, if you are in a group chat and things are getting too noisy/chaotic, you can type 'Lotfan sāket bāshid'.
It's an onomatopoeia, like 'shh' in English. It's very common in Persian.
The opposite is 'Sholugh' (crowded/noisy) or 'Por-sar-o-sedā' (full of head and sound/noisy).
Expressions liées
ساکت باش
similarBe quiet (singular/informal)
سکوت کنید
synonymMake silence
حرف نزنید
similarDon't talk
آرام باشید
builds onBe calm/quiet
خاموش باشید
specialized formBe silent/extinguished
خفه شو
contrastShut up
Où l'utiliser
In a Cinema
Person A: فیلم شروع شد، لطفا ساکت باشید.
Person B: ببخشید، الان گوشی را خاموش میکنم.
In a Classroom
Teacher: بچهها ساکت باشید، امتحان شروع شد.
Student: چشم آقا، معذرت میخواهیم.
At a Hospital
Nurse: لطفا در بخش ساکت باشید، بیماران استراحت میکنند.
Visitor: حتما، متاسفم.
During a Speech
Organizer: خانمها و آقایان، لطفا ساکت باشید تا برنامه را شروع کنیم.
Audience: (Silence falls over the room)
In a Library
Librarian: آقا، اینجا کتابخانه است، لطفا ساکت باشید.
Student: ببخشید، حواسم نبود.
At Home with Guests
Host: بچهها، لطفا ساکت باشید، مهمانها دارند صحبت میکنند.
Child: باشه مامان.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Think of a 'Socket' (ساکت). If you plug a socket, the noise of the machine stops. Sāket = Silence.
Association visuelle
Imagine a giant library with a Persian cat wearing a tuxedo, holding a finger to its lips and pointing to a sign that says 'Sāket Bāshid'.
Rhyme
ساکت باشید، راحت باشید (Sāket bāshid, rāhat bāshid) - Be quiet, be comfortable.
Story
A group of noisy tourists entered a beautiful, ancient mosque in Isfahan. The guide turned around, smiled gently, and said 'Sāket bāshid'. Suddenly, the echoes of their voices stopped, and they could hear the beautiful sound of water dripping in the courtyard fountain.
In Other Languages
Similar to the Arabic 'Uskutu' (plural) or the Spanish 'Cállense'. It shares the same Semitic root as the Hebrew 'Sheket'.
Word Web
Défi
Try to go into a Persian-speaking environment (or a language app) and use 'لطفا ساکت باشید' in a role-play scenario where you are a librarian.
Review this phrase every time you enter a quiet zone like a library or a study hall.
Prononciation
The 'ā' is long like in 'father', and the 'e' is short like in 'met'.
The 'ā' is long, and 'id' sounds like 'eed' in 'seed'.
Spectre de formalité
خواهشمند است سکوت را رعایت فرمایید. (General command for silence)
لطفا ساکت باشید. (General command for silence)
بچهها ساکت! (General command for silence)
صداها قطع! (General command for silence)
Derived from the Arabic root S-K-T (س-ک-ت) meaning 'to be silent'. It entered Persian during the early Islamic period and replaced or supplemented Middle Persian terms like 'Khāmush'.
Le savais-tu ?
The word 'Sāket' is an active participle in Arabic, meaning 'one who is silent'. So when you say 'Sāket bāshid', you are literally saying 'Be silent-ones'.
Notes culturelles
In Iranian schools, the 'shush' is often accompanied by a rhythmic clapping or a specific 'Hees' sound that is much longer than the English 'shh'.
“معلم گفت هیسسسسس و همه ساکت شدند.”
In Dari Persian, 'Chup bāshed' (چپ باشید) is often used alongside or instead of 'Sāket bāshid'. It carries the same meaning but 'Chup' is more common in certain regions.
“لطفا چپ باشید که استاد گپ میزند.”
Tajik Persian often uses 'Tinch' (tinch boshed) which is influenced by Turkic languages, though 'Sāket' is understood in formal contexts.
“Тинҷ бошед (Tinch boshed) - Be quiet/calm.”
During the 'Khutbah' (sermon) of Friday prayers, silence is not just polite but a religious requirement. Signs will often say 'Sokut rā re'āyat farmāyid'.
“هنگام خطبهها باید ساکت باشید.”
Amorces de conversation
در چه مکانهایی باید ساکت باشید؟
اگر کسی در سینما ساکت نباشد، شما چه میگویید؟
چرا معلمها همیشه میگویند ساکت باشید؟
Erreurs courantes
ساکت هستید
ساکت باشید
L1 Interference
خفه شو (to a teacher)
ساکت باشید
L1 Interference
ساکت باش (to a group)
ساکت باشید
L1 Interference
ساکت کردن
ساکت باشید
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
¡Cállense!
Spanish uses a reflexive verb (callarse), while Persian uses an adjective + auxiliary verb.
Taisez-vous
French uses the pronominal verb 'se taire'.
Seid ruhig
German has a specific plural imperative form 'seid', similar to Persian 'bāshid'.
静かにしてください (Shizuka ni shite kudasai)
Japanese uses 'shite' (do) rather than 'be', focusing on the action of making the environment quiet.
اسكتوا (Uskutu)
Arabic uses a single verb form, whereas Persian uses a compound verb.
请安静 (Qǐng ānjìng)
Chinese doesn't require a verb like 'be' in this specific short command.
조용히 하세요 (Joyonghi haseyo)
Korean uses an adverbial form ('quietly') + 'do', whereas Persian uses an adjective + 'be'.
Silêncio, por favor
Persian almost always prefers the verb-based command over just saying the noun 'Sokut'.
Spotted in the Real World
“ساکت باشید ببینم چی میگه!”
During a chaotic scene in the investigator's office, Nader tries to hear the official.
“برادرها، لطفا ساکت باشید.”
Reza, pretending to be a cleric, addresses a group of prisoners.
“ساکت باش و هیچی نگو...”
A song about heartbreak and the power of silence.
Facile à confondre
The words 'Sāket' (silent) and 'Sāken' (resident/still) sound very similar.
Remember 'T' for 'Talk' (don't talk) = SākeT. 'N' for 'Neighborhood' (resident) = SākeN.
Learners sometimes mispronounce 'Sāket' as 'Sā'at' (hour/clock).
Sāket has a hard 'K' sound in the middle.
Questions fréquentes (10)
No, it is the standard polite way to ask for silence. However, your tone of voice matters a lot.
basic understandingIt's better to use a more indirect request like 'Bebakhshid, mishe lotfan kami sokut rā re'āyat konid?' unless you are managing a meeting.
usage contexts'Sāket' is for people and environments. 'Khāmush' is more poetic or used for turning off lights/engines.
comparisonsYou can say 'Sāket bāsh' (singular) or just 'Hees!'.
practical tipsYes, 'Sedā nade' (don't give sound) is a bit more casual.
grammar mechanics'Bāshid' is the imperative (command) form, while 'hastid' is the indicative (statement) form.
grammar mechanics'Sokut' is the noun for 'silence'. 'Sāket' is the adjective 'silent'.
basic understandingYes, if you are in a group chat and things are getting too noisy/chaotic, you can type 'Lotfan sāket bāshid'.
usage contextsIt's an onomatopoeia, like 'shh' in English. It's very common in Persian.
practical tipsThe opposite is 'Sholugh' (crowded/noisy) or 'Por-sar-o-sedā' (full of head and sound/noisy).
comparisons
