What does it mean word for word?
The prefix по- in помолчи implies a certain duration or that the action is temporary, suggesting the person should be quiet for a little while.
Which one should you use?
The form помолчи suggests being quiet for a short time, whereas the bare imperative молчи is much harsher, more commanding and can feel like telling someone to shut up. For a descriptive or situational way to say hush or quietly, you can use тихо. Additionally, Тише can be used informally to mean quieter.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
помолчи is an informal singular form used with friends, children or people you know well. For a polite or plural address, use помолчите. If you need to be very blunt or rude in an informal setting, Заткнись translates to shut up. For a more polite request, you can say Пожалуйста, будьте потише, which means please be quieter.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on the number of people you are addressing or the level of politeness required: use помолчи for an informal singular subject and помолчите for a polite or plural subject.
How do you pronounce it?
pomolchi
Did you know?
- The rude command Заткнись literally means 'plug yourself up', imagining a physical plug blocking the mouth.
- In very formal settings, instead of помолчите, a Russian speaker might use the noun 'silence' тишина as a request, such as Прошу тишины.
- The root of молчать is related to the concept of being 'mute', and the phrase carries a weight of total silence rather than just speaking softly.
Examples in context
- Помолчи, пока мы едим.Be quiet while we are eating.This sentence shows how to use помолчи to ask for silence during a specific activity.Tatoeba #535645 by ae5s, translation #394113 by CC
- Помолчи-ка.Be quiet.This sentence uses the particle –ка with помолчи to express the command.Tatoeba #2731423 by sharptoothed, translation #1275396 by jakov
- Помолчи минутку.Be quiet for a moment.This sentence demonstrates using помолчи to ask for silence for a brief period.Tatoeba #3119271 by Inego, translation #40046 by CK
- Пожалуйста, будьте потише в библиотеке.Please be quieter in the library.
- Молчи, я смотрю телевизор.Be quiet, I'm watching TV.
- Просьба сохранять тишину во время премьеры.Request to maintain silence during the premiere.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anastasia and Alexander are in a library trying to study.
- Анастасия AnastasiaПожалуйста, помолчи немного.Pozhaluysta, pomolchi nemnogo.Please, be quiet for a bit.
- Александр AleksandrХорошо, я буду тише.Khorosho, ya budu tishe.Okay, I will be quieter.
- Анастасия AnastasiaСпасибо, Александр.Spasibo, Aleksandr.Thank you, Alexander.
- Александр AleksandrНе за что.Ne za chto.Don't mention it.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
