still
/ʃtɪl/
The English word "silent" can be translated into German as still. Wiktionary also lists schweigen.
Meaning: free from sound or noise, absolutely still, perfectly quiet (adj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA |
|---|---|
| still | /ʃtɪl/ |
| schweigen | /ˈʃvaɪ̯ɡən/ |
still is the standard German word for "silent" and describes a state of being free from sound, noise or movement (motionless). You may also use leise to express being quiet or soft. For a more emphatic way to describe absolute silence, you can use Mucksmäuschenstill, which describes something as being "mouse-silent".
Which one should you use?
still is an adjective used to describe a person or a place as being quiet or motionless. In contrast, schweigen is a verb that describes the specific action of remaining silent or refraining from speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
When used before a noun, the adjective still follows standard German declension rules, such as in the phrase eine stille Nacht (a silent night).
How do you pronounce it?
/ʃtɪl/
Did you know?
- To tell someone to be silent in a stern or rude manner, Germans use the imperative Schweig! This is significantly harsher than asking someone to be leise.
- The phrase Stille Wasser gründen tief is a common idiom meaning 'still waters run deep'. It is used to describe a person who seems quiet but has a complex or surprising personality.
- The verb schweigen developed from a 'weak' verb to a 'strong' verb during the early Middle High German period. This shift changed how the word is conjugated in the past tense.
Examples in context
- Das Haus war still.The house was silent.This sentence is useful for describing the silence of a house using still.Tatoeba #1817995 by BraveSentry, translation #4442624 by Hybrid
- Der Junge war still.The boy was silent.This sentence is useful for describing a person using still.Tatoeba #1913865 by Zaghawa, translation #1487680 by marshmallowcat
- Wir waren alle still.All of us were silent.This sentence is useful for describing a group of people using still.Tatoeba #1317785 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #248351 by CK
- Die Bibliothek war still.The library was silent.
- Bitte bleib während der Prüfung still.Please remain silent during the exam.
- Ich saß still da und überlegte meinen nächsten Zug.I sat in silence, contemplating my next move.
- Sie schwieg und wartete auf weitere Anweisungen.She remained silent, waiting for further instructions.
- Wir sollten in dieser Angelegenheit schweigsam sein.We should be discreet and silent about this matter.
- Das Haus war ruhigThe house was quiet
- Ich brauche RuheI need peace
- Sie flüsterten leiseThey whispered quietly
- In der Nacht war es mucksmäuschenstillAt night, it was dead silent.
- Sei nit stummDon't be silent
- 124 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are in a library.
- FelixEs ist hier sehr still.It is very silent here.
- HannahJa, bitte sei auch still.Yes, please be quiet too.
- FelixEntschuldigung, ich werde still sein.Sorry, I will be silent.
- HannahDanke, Felix.Thank you, Felix.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “silent” translations and entries still, schweigen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries schweigen, still, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
