tace
The English phrase "shut up" is translated into Latin as tace.
The command tace is used to tell someone to stop talking. While it translates to "shut up," in a Latin context it is often more naturally understood as "be silent" or "keep quiet."
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
Which one should you use?
tace is the singular imperative used when addressing one person. To tell more than one person to shut up, use the plural imperative tacete.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes depending on how it is used in a sentence. The singular imperative tace becomes the third-person singular present indicative tacet (he/she/it shuts up). If you are using a subjunctive construction, such as "I order that you shut up," the form for a single person changes to taceas.
Did you know?
- The word tacet is still used today in musical scores to indicate that a singer or instrument should remain silent for a specific section.
- The English word 'tacit', used to describe something understood without being spoken, shares the same root as the Latin tace.
- While tace is a direct command, a Roman might more politely use the phrase silentium servare, which literally means 'to preserve silence'.
Examples in context
- Non vos duo iam tacetis?Won't you two just shut up already?This sentence shows the use of the form tace in a question.Tatoeba #11814245 by soridsolid, translation #5384449 by Hybrid
- Eī imperātum est ut taceat.He was ordered to shut up.This sentence demonstrates the use of the form tace in a command.Tatoeba #11035382 by alexmarcelo, translation #291685 by CM
- Tibi linguam abscidam, ni taces!I'll cut off your tongue if you don't shut up!This sentence shows the use of the form tace in a conditional warning.Tatoeba #10847105 by soridsolid, translation #10847107 by soridsolid
- 10 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucius and Lucia are studying in a quiet library.
- LuciusTace, Lucia, libros lego!Shut up, Lucia, I am reading books!
- LuciaSed hoc est grave!But this is serious!
- LuciusNunc tace et scribe.Now shut up and write.
- LuciaBene, tacebo.Fine, I will be quiet.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry tace, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
