shekilli

It Seems

Level 3

Shekilli means it seems, apparently or I guess. Say the statement first, then add , shekilli: U charchagan, shekilli (He's tired, it seems).

How It Works

Shekilli is a modal word of guessing. You use it when something you notice makes you think a statement is true:

  • U charchagan, shekilli. (He's tired, it seems.) Perhaps he keeps yawning.
  • Yomgʻir yogʻadi, shekilli. (It looks like it will rain.) Perhaps the sky is dark.

Position. Shekilli usually comes right after the statement it comments on, most often at the end of the sentence. When the sentence goes on, it stands between commas: Uyaldi, shekilli, boshini egdi. (He was embarrassed, it seems, and lowered his head.) The spelling rules call for these commas, though even dictionary examples sometimes leave out the one before shekilli.

Verb forms. Any tense works. The result past -gan is very common, because you are judging from a result you can see: Eshik ochiq, kimdir kelgan, shekilli. (The door is open; someone has come, it seems.)

As a short answer. Shekilli also softens a short reply: — Aziz keladimi? — Kelmaydi, shekilli. (Is Aziz coming? — I don't think so.)

Similar words. Chogʻi and chamasi mean the same and sound more bookish. Balki and ehtimol are closer to maybe. To build it seems that with a verb, see -ganga oʻxshaydi, and to report something you have just found out, use ekan.

Examples (5)

  1. U charchagan, shekilli.

    He's tired, it seems.

    Word by Word: He tired-is, it-seems.

  2. Yomgʻir yogʻadi, shekilli.

    It looks like it will rain.

    Word by Word: Rain falls, it-seems.

  3. Eshik ochiq, kimdir kelgan, shekilli.

    The door is open; someone has come, it seems.

    Word by Word: Door open, someone come-has, it-seems.

    The guess comes from something the speaker can see.

  4. Biz yoʻldan adashdik, shekilli.

    We've lost our way, it seems.

    Word by Word: We road-from strayed-we, it-seems.

  5. — Aziz keladimi? — Kelmaydi, shekilli.

    Is Aziz coming? — I don't think so.

    Word by Word: Aziz comes-Q? — Comes-not, it-seems.

    Shekilli softens a short answer.

Common Mistakes

  • Using shekilli for looks like (meant: He looks like his father).

    U otasi, shekilli.
    U otasiga oʻxshaydi.

    The incorrect sentence means He's his father, it seems: a guess about who he is. To say someone resembles someone, use -ga oʻxshamoq.

  • Mixing shekilli with a word of certainty.

    U albatta charchagan, shekilli.
    U charchagan, shekilli.

    Albatta means certainly, while shekilli marks a guess, so the two contradict each other. Choose one: a guess (U charchagan, shekilli) or a certainty (U albatta charchagan).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

shekilliLevel 3It Seems

Learn This First

Builds on Maybe, Probably and It Turns Out: ekan.