What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb guardar (to keep or to guard) and the noun silencio (silence).
Which one should you use?
While guardar silencio is a neutral or formal way to express the idea, the verb callar is more direct and can sound more blunt or rude depending on the context.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For more formal requests, you can use Permanezca en silencio (remain quiet or stay silent), Guarde silencio, por favor (keep quiet, please) or Silencio, por favor (silence, please). Conversely, Cállate is an informal way to say 'shut up' or 'be quiet'. For a casual and friendly request to be quiet, you can say Silencio, porfa.
How does it change in a sentence?
To give a polite command to 'keep quiet', use the formal imperative form guarde silencio.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɡwaɾdaɾ silenθjo/
When do people say it?
In Spanish, making the sound shhh is understood as a request for silence and using the word silencio with an exclamation mark can also be used to indicate the need for quiet.
Did you know?
- The verb guardar in guardar silencio entered Spanish via Early Medieval Latin wardāre, which was borrowed from the Frankish language.
- In Spanish, the verb callar is used not only to stop speaking but also to hide a secret or keep a piece of information hidden.
- Spanish makes a technical distinction between callar, which is the act of stopping one's own speech, and silenciar, which refers to making something else silent, such as muting a device.
Examples in context
- Por favor, permanezca en silencio durante la conferencia.Please remain quiet during the conference.
- Debes guardar silencio en la biblioteca.You must keep quiet in the library.
- Ella prefirió guardar silencio durante la reunión.She preferred to remain silent during the meeting.
- Es importante guardar silencio cuando alguien habla.It is important to keep quiet when someone is speaking.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are entering a movie theater.
- MateoYa empezó la película, hay que guardar silencio.The movie already started, we have to keep quiet.
- LucíaTienes razón, no diré nada.You are right, I won't say anything.
- MateoMira, todos están guardando silencio ahora.Look, everyone is keeping quiet now.
- LucíaSí, vamos a sentarnos rápido.Yes, let's sit down quickly.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries guardar, silencio, CC BY-SA 4.0.
