тишина́
tišináfeminine
The English word silence is тишина́ (tišiná) in Russian.
тишина́ is a feminine noun meaning a lack of sound. Related to this, you can use the adjective ти́хий to describe a person, a place or a sound as being quiet. If you want to express the action of making something silent, you can use the verbs заглуша́ть, заглуши́ть or заста́вить замолча́ть.
Meaning: lack of sound (noun)
Which one should you use?
When you want to tell someone to be quiet or to lower their volume, you use the adverb ти́хо! (literally meaning 'quietly!'). This differs from the command молчи́!, which is a direct order to stop speaking and is much more blunt or rude. While ти́хо! functions as a request for quiet, молчи́! is a command to be silent.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun тишина́ changes its stress and ending to тишины́ in the genitive singular case. This form is used to indicate possession or after many prepositions.
How do you pronounce it?
tišiná
Did you know?
- The Russian expression гробова́я тишина́ literally translates to 'grave silence'. It is used to describe a silence so absolute and heavy that it feels oppressive or ominous.
- In Russian, there is a distinction between тишина́ (silence as an absence of noise) and молча́ние (silence as the act of not speaking). While both translate to 'silence', the latter is used specifically for human silence.
- Russian provides a unique verb, замолча́ть, to describe the specific instant a person transitions from speaking into silence. This is distinct from the verb used to describe the ongoing state of being silent.
Examples in context
- На секу́нду воцари́лась тишина́.There was silence for a moment.This sentence is useful for illustrating the use of тишина́.Tatoeba #3234399 by Wayawa, translation #807105 by Source_VOA
- В этом зале царит глубокое молчание.There is deep silence in this room.
- Я призываю к молчанию на общественной лекции.I request silence during the public lecture.
- На улице была полная тишина.There was complete silence outside.
- Повисло мучительное безмолвие после его высказывания.There was an agonizing silence after his statement.
- В лесу стояла глубокая тишина́.V lesu stoyala glubokaya tishina.There was a deep silence in the forest.
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Sergey are in a quiet library.
- Екатерина EkaterinaСергей, какая здесь тишина́.Sergey, kakaya zdes' tishina.Sergey, it is so silent in here.
- Сергей SergeyДа, мне это очень нравится.Da, mne eto ochen' nravitsya.Yes, I like it very much.
- Екатерина EkaterinaНаконец-то можно спокойно почитать.Nakonets-to mozhno spokoyno pochitat'.Finally, I can read in peace.
- Сергей SergeyСогласен, Екатерина, здесь очень уютно.Soglasen, Ekaterina, zdes' ochen' uyutno.I agree, Ekaterina, it's very cozy here.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silence” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
