por favor silencio
/poɾ faboɾ silenθjo/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'please be quiet' is translated into Spanish as por favor silencio.
This phrase is a polite request for someone to stop making noise. In many Spanish-speaking contexts, the sound ¡Shhh! is a very common and effective way to request quiet, often used alongside the verbal request.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is a combination of por favor (please) and silencio (silence).
Which one should you use?
While por favor silencio is understandable, ¡Silencio, por favor! is a more natural and standard way to make a polite request for silence in Spanish. Additionally, in formal settings, you may use Por Favor, Guarde Silencio to say 'Please, keep quiet'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
¡Silencio, por favor! is considered a formal way to request silence. For more formal settings, Por Favor, Guarde Silencio is also used.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Argentina, you might hear Hacé silencio, por favor in informal situations.
How do you pronounce it?
/poɾ faboɾ silenθjo/
Did you know?
- In Spain, you might hear people use the phrase ¡Chitón! as a sudden, informal way to demand silence, which is much more abrupt than silencio.
- In highly formal settings like a court or a high-end theater, you may see signs that say Se ruega silencio, which literally translates to 'silence is begged for'.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, requesting silence with a finger to the lips is common, but doing so to a superior can be seen as rude regardless of the words used.
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are entering a movie theater.
- SofíaDaniel, ya empezó la película.Daniel, the movie already started.
- DanielLo siento, solo busco mi asiento.I'm sorry, I'm just looking for my seat.
- SofíaPor favor silencio, que todos miran.Please be quiet, everyone is looking.
- DanielEstá bien, ya me callo.Okay, I'll be quiet now.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
