Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Stille | /ˈʃtɪlə/ | feminine |
| Schweigen | /ˈʃvaɪɡən/ | neuter |
German uses different words for silence depending on whether you are talking about an environment or a person's behavior. Use Stille to describe a peaceful atmosphere or the physical absence of sound, such as in a quiet room or a forest. Use Schweigen to describe the act of not speaking or a person's decision to remain quiet and offer no verbal response.
Which one should you use?
Stille refers to a quiet environment or the absence of sound, whereas Schweigen refers specifically to the refusal to speak or a lack of communication.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun Stille is a feminine noun derived from the adjective 'still', which describes things that are not moving or making noise. The word Schweigen is a neuter noun. You can also use the present participle schweigend as an adverb to describe an action performed silently.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʃtɪlə/
Did you know?
- The phrase Totenstille literally translates to 'death silence' and is used to describe a complete and eerie lack of sound.
- An English speaker might say 'a silent forest', but in German, describing a forest as 'schweigend' would imply the forest is intentionally withholding information.
- German has a specific term Schweigegebot, which refers to a legal or official gag order that forces silence.
Examples in context
- Mary litt im Stillen.Mary suffered in silence.This sentence shows how to use the form Stille to describe suffering quietly.Tatoeba #12166862 by Naina, translation #7850000 by Hybrid
- Ich saß schweigend da.I sat in silence.This sentence uses the form Schweigen to describe sitting without speaking.Tatoeba #13208761 by Waldelfe, translation #12914084 by Asif
- Wie hört sich Stille an?What does silence sound like?This sentence uses the form Stille to ask about the nature of silence.Tatoeba #2226449 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2150448 by Hybrid
- Die Stille ist manchmal der schönste Klang in einer lauten Welt.Silence is sometimes the most beautiful sound in a loud world.
- 159 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Julia are sitting in a quiet park.
- FelixDie Stille hier ist wunderbar, oder?The silence here is wonderful, isn't it?
- JuliaJa, Felix, ich liebe diese Ruhe.Yes, Felix, I love this peace.
- FelixEs ist so friedlich ohne die Stadt.It is so peaceful without the city.
- JuliaGenau, lass uns einfach die Stille genießen.Exactly, let's just enjoy the silence.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silence” translations and entries Stille, Schweigen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
