bądź cicho
/ˈbɔɲt͡ɕ ˈt͡ɕi.xɔ/word by word
The English phrase "be quiet" is translated into Polish as bądź cicho.
This phrase is used as a request or command for someone to stop making noise. While bądź cicho is a standard way to express this, you may also encounter bądź cichy as an alternative phrase for the same meaning.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of two parts: bądź is the imperative form of the verb "to be", and cicho is an adverb meaning "quietly".
Which one should you use?
While bądź cicho is a common way to express the command, Zamknij się translates to the much more direct and blunt "shut up". Additionally, Cicho can be used as a shorter, familiar way to say "quiet" in informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form bądź cicho is the singular imperative, used when addressing one person informally. If you are telling a group of people to be quiet informally, you should use the plural form bądźcie cicho.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈbɔɲtɕ ˈtɕi.xɔ/. It has 3 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- The imperative bądź is an inherited form from Old Polish and shares a distant connection with the Hungarian word vagy.
- In some Polish idioms, cicho is used to describe secrets, such as the phrase po cichu, which means 'on the sly' or 'secretly'.
- If you want to tell someone to be quiet in a much more aggressive way, you might say Zamknij się, which literally means 'close yourself'.
Examples in context
- Bądź cicho podczas kursu.Be quiet during the course.This example shows how to use bądź cicho in the context of a course.Tatoeba #10568615 by tokzyk, translation #2826290 by Tom9358
- Bądź cicho i zachowuj się!Be quiet and behave!This example uses bądź cicho to command someone to be quiet and behave.Tatoeba #2146451 by jeedrek, translation #8160545 by TheNightAvl
- Bądź cicho w trakcie lekcji.Be quiet during the lesson.This example demonstrates using bądź cicho during a lesson.Tatoeba #10568616 by tokzyk, translation #266212 by Haneen
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Katarzyna and Tomasz are in a library.
- KatarzynaTomasz, bądź cicho proszę.Tomasz, be quiet please.
- TomaszPrzepraszam, zapomniałem, gdzie jesteśmy.Sorry, I forgot where we are.
- KatarzynaInni ludzie tutaj pracują.Other people are working here.
- TomaszDobrze, już milczę.Okay, I'm silent now.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (bądź, cicho) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bądź, cicho, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
