quietus
[kʷiˈeː.tʊs]
The English adjective 'quiet' is translated into Latin as quietus.
The adjective quietus is used to describe something with little sound. It should not be confused with the noun quiēs, which refers to the state of quiet, rest or silence.
Meaning: with little sound (adj)
Which one should you use?
While quietus is the adjective used to describe a state of being quiet, quiēs is a substantive noun representing calm and tranquility.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, quietus must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, so the feminine form is quieta. The masculine plural form is quieti. The genitive plural form, meaning 'of the quiet', is quietorum.
Did you know?
- The adjective quietus can be used as a euphemism for death, describing a person who has finally found 'rest' and is no longer disturbed by the world.
- In medieval legal Latin, the formula quietus est ('he is discharged') marked a debt as settled, which is where the English word 'quietus' comes from.
- While quietus describes a quality, the noun quiēs is often used in Latin literature to personify 'Rest' as a goddess.
Examples in context
- dona nobis quietemGrant us peace
- sile, amice!Be quiet, my friend!
- Ille est taciturnusHe is quiet
- Sis tacitus, quaeso!Please, be quiet!
- Nox est quieta.The night is calm.
- Locus iste est quietus.This place is quiet.
- In horto qui quietus est, dormio.I sleep in the garden that is quiet.
Example conversation
Gaius and Lucia are walking through a peaceful park at night.
- GaiusUbi est locus qui quietus est?Where is a place that is quiet?
- LuciaHic hortus est quietus.This garden is quiet.
- GaiusIta vero, est valde quietus.Indeed, it is very quiet.
- LuciaEamus et silentium fruamur.Let us go and enjoy the silence.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry quietus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
