fique quieto
To say "be quiet" in Portuguese, use fique quieto.
fique quieto is used as a request or command for someone to stop talking or making noise.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of fique (the imperative form of "to stay/remain") and quieto (quiet/still).
Which one should you use?
While fique quieto is a command directed at a person, the single word silêncio! is a common, more abrupt way to demand silence in a room.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
If you want to be much more aggressive and informal, you might use cala a boca, which is equivalent to "shut up".
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing a female, you must change the adjective to the feminine form fique quieta. To address more than one person, use the plural form fiquem quietos.
Did you know?
- While fique quieto means 'be quiet', it is often used to tell someone to stop moving entirely. In this context, it translates more closely to 'stay still' than to a request for silence.
- In certain Portuguese dialects, if you want to tell a child to be quiet, you might use the diminutive quietinho, which turns the command into a much softer, almost affectionate request.
- Using cala a boca to a superior or an elder in a Lusophone culture is considered a grave insult, far more so than saying 'shut up' would be in a casual English setting.
Examples in context
- Por favor, fique quieto.Please be quiet.This sentence shows how to use fique quieto with "please".Tatoeba #868813 by alexmarcelo, translation #449049 by CK
- Fique quieto por um momento.Be quiet for a moment.This sentence shows how to use fique quieto to ask for a moment of quiet.Tatoeba #1331760 by alexmarcelo, translation #40046 by CK
- Fique quieto. Não fale no teatro.Be quiet. Don't talk in the theater.This sentence shows how to use fique quieto to instruct someone not to talk in a theater.Tatoeba #913186 by alexmarcelo, translation #272034 by CM
- Silêncio, por favor.Silence, please.
- Poderia manter o silêncio, por gentileza?Could you please keep the silence?
- Fica quieto.Stay quiet.
- Desculpa interromper, mas você poderia falar mais baixo, por favor?Sorry to interrupt, but could you speak more quietly, please?
- Pessoal, vamos tentar manter um pouco mais de silêncio durante a reunião.Folks, let's try to keep a bit more silence during the meeting.
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Camila are in a library.
- LucasCamila, fique quieto agora, por favor.Camila, be quiet now, please.
- CamilaDesculpe, eu esqueci que estávamos na biblioteca.Sorry, I forgot we were in the library.
- LucasAs pessoas estão tentando estudar aqui.People are trying to study here.
- CamilaTudo bem, vou ficar em silêncio.Alright, I will stay silent.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
