chut
/ʃy/
chut is the French way to say 'hush'.
The word chut is used as an interjection to command silence, similar to the English 'shh'.
Meaning: to make quiet (verb)
Which one should you use?
While chut is an interjection used to quiet someone down, silence is a more formal command or a noun meaning the state of being quiet.
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃy/
Did you know?
- Using chut toward an adult in France can be perceived as treating them like a child, as it is a very direct and authoritative command.
- While English uses 'hush' as a verb to soothe a baby, French speakers are more likely to use the word bercer meaning 'to rock' to describe the act of calming a child.
- The sound of chut is an onomatopoeia, meaning the word was created to mimic the physical sound of air escaping through teeth to signal silence.
Examples in context
- Chut ! Il dort.Hush! He's sleeping.This example shows how to use chut when someone is sleeping.Tatoeba #9840746 by lbdx, translation #6772254 by Eccles17
- Chut !Hush!This example shows how to use chut as a standalone command.Tatoeba #689807 by sacredceltic, translation #689811 by sacredceltic
- Tais-toi, je regarde un film.Be quiet, I'm watching a movie.
Example conversation
Nathan and Emma are in a library.
- NathanChut, Emma, c'est une bibliothèque.Hush, Emma, this is a library.
- EmmaDésolée, je ne savais pas.Sorry, I didn't know.
- NathanOn doit rester silencieux ici.We have to stay silent here.
- EmmaJe vais faire attention maintenant.I will be careful now.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry chut, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chut, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
