Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| quieto | /kiˈɛ.tu/ (Brazil) /ˈkjɛ.tu/ (Brazil) |
| silencioso | /si.lẽ.siˈo.zu/ (Brazil) /si.lẽˈsjo.zu/ (Brazil) |
In Portuguese, you can also use calado to mean quiet, which often carries a connotation of being reserved or silent.
Which one should you use?
While both terms can mean quiet, quieto often implies being still or motionless, such as describing a child or an animal. In contrast, silencioso refers specifically to the absence of noise and is used to describe objects that produce little sound, such as a motor silencioso (a quiet motor).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective quieto must agree in gender and number with the subject it describes. Use quieta for feminine singular nouns, quietas for feminine plural nouns and quietos for masculine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of quieto is /kiˈɛ.tu/. It has three syllables, with the stress on the second syllable.
When do people say it?
The phrase Fique quieto! is a common way to tell a single person informally to be quiet or to stop moving and making noise.
Did you know?
- Portuguese uses the word quieto in the expression ficar quieto, which can colloquially mean to keep a secret or avoid mentioning a specific topic.
- While silencioso is a direct adjective, Portuguese speakers often use the phrase fazer silêncio (to make silence) to ask for quiet, treating silence as something you actively create.
- In Brazil, quieto is frequently used to describe someone who is introverted or shy in a general personality sense, not just their current state of noise.
Examples in context
- O Tom ficou quieto.Tom became quiet.This sentence shows how to use quieto to describe someone becoming quiet.Tatoeba #2652943 by marcospcruz, translation #2235997 by CK
- O bebê ficou quieto.The baby kept quiet.This sentence shows how to use quieto to describe a baby keeping quiet.Tatoeba #1291677 by alexmarcelo, translation #272319 by CK
- O menino ficou quieto.The boy stayed quiet.This sentence shows how to use quieto to describe a boy staying quiet.Tatoeba #1052271 by brauliobezerra, translation #703341 by papabear
- Fiquem quietos, por favor! Quero assistir ao filme.Please be quiet! I want to watch the movie.
- Fique quieto e não faça barulho durante a reunião.Stay quiet and don't make any noise during the meeting.
- O sossego do campo é revigorante.The tranquility of the countryside is refreshing.
- 94 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Juliana are in a library.
- RodrigoPor que você está tão quieto, Rodrigo?Why are you so quiet, Rodrigo?
- JulianaEu estou tentando ler este livro.I am trying to read this book.
- RodrigoTudo bem, eu vou ficar quieto também.All right, I will stay quiet too.
- JulianaObrigado, Juliana.Thank you, Juliana.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “quiet” translations and entries quieto, silencioso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
