Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| утихоми́ривать | utixomírivatʹ | imperfective |
| успока́ивать | uspokáivatʹ | imperfective |
утихоми́ривать is typically used when referring to calming down something unruly, such as a restless child or a rowdy crowd, while успока́ивать is more common for soothing emotions, nerves or physical pain.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb утихоми́ривать is derived from the root тихий, meaning quiet and it carries the sense of making something or someone quiet or subdued.
Which one should you use?
Use утихоми́ривать to imply bringing order to chaos or noise. Use успока́ивать when the goal is to soothe a person's internal state, such as their feelings or a physical sensation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both утихоми́ривать and успока́ивать are imperfective verbs.
How do you pronounce it?
utixomírivatʹ
When do people say it?
In informal settings, you can use the sound Шш to ask someone to be quiet, which is often used with children or close acquaintances. For a softer and more affectionate way to say "hush" to children or close friends, use the phrase Тише-тише.
Did you know?
- The concept of успока́ивать is closely tied to the word покой, which means 'peace' or 'rest' and is also the word used for the silence of the grave.
- The verb утихоми́ривать shares a linguistic root with the word for 'pacify' or 'tame', suggesting that hushing a crowd is akin to domesticating a wild animal.
- The adjective тихий (quiet) can also be used to describe a person's character, implying they are 'mild' or 'docile' rather than just low in volume.
Examples in context
- Пожалуйста, будьте тише.Please, be quiet.
- Пожалуйста, будьте потише.Please, be quieter.
- Шш, не шуми.Hush, don't make noise.
- Тише-тише, не буди младенца.Hush, don't wake the baby.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hush” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
