How to Say “Be Quiet” in Oromo

By Alison Stella • Updated October 2, 2026

cal'isi

The English phrase "be quiet" is translated into Oromo as cal'isi.

cal'isi is a command used to tell someone to stop making noise.

Did you know?

In Oromo culture, using cal'isi toward an elder is seen as a serious breach of social etiquette.
In certain contexts, the word used in cal'isi can relate to the concept of 'settling' or 'calming down' rather than just silence.
To soften the command and make it sound more like a polite request, a speaker might add a particle at the end, changing the social tone of the command.

Example conversation

Gadaa and Ayantu are in a library.

Gadaa

Ayantu, maaloo cal'isi.
Ayantu, please be quiet.
Ayantu

Dhiifama, Gadaa.
Sorry, Gadaa.
Gadaa

Namoonni hafuuraa jiru.
People are studying.
Ayantu

Tole, nan cal'isa.
Okay, I will be quiet.

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About The Author

Alison Stella

Hi there! I'm Alison, a language enthusiast with a penchant for pronunciation guides. Living amidst the melody of languages has always fascinated me so I find peace in decoding linguistic intricacies. From explaining how to say "I Love You" in Kazakh to teaching the pronunciation of "Teriyaki", I've probably got a guide for it. When not embroidering words, I'm fond of sipping different coffee tastes around the globe. One language that keeps pulling me in is Oromo, so you will also find my guides to saying things in Oromo here. Language connects us, join me on this thrilling ride!

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