перестань говорить
perestan' govorit'
In Russian, "stop talking" is said as перестань говорить (perestan' govorit').
This phrase is used as a command to tell someone to be quiet or to end their speech.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb перестань (stop/cease) and the infinitive говорить (to talk/to speak).
Which one should you use?
While перестань говорить is a direct command to cease a specific action, the term замолчи is a sharper and more abrupt way to tell someone to be quiet, often translated as "shut up".
How does it change in a sentence?
To address more than one person or to use the command in a polite or formal way, use the form перестаньте говорить.
How do you pronounce it?
perestan' govorit'
Did you know?
- The Russian verb говорить is a distant cousin to the Persian verb گفتن (goftan). Both words share ancient Indo-European roots, linking the way Russians and Persians describe speech across millennia.
- To tell someone to 'be quiet' in a polite, non-commanding way, Russians often say тише (quieter), which functions more like an observation of volume than a direct order.
- In Russian, if you want to tell someone to 'shut up' in a very rude way, you might use the word заткнись, which is much more aggressive than the standard 'stop talking'.
Examples in context
- Перестань говорить о них.Stop talking about them.This sentence shows how to use перестань говорить when discussing specific people.Tatoeba #4808494 by odexed, translation #3920685 by CH
- Перестань говорить о себе.Stop talking about yourself.This sentence shows how to use перестань говорить when discussing oneself.Tatoeba #4628858 by marafon, translation #3920683 by CH
- Перестань говорить о Томе.Stop talking about Tom.This sentence shows how to use перестань говорить when discussing a specific person named Tom.Tatoeba #5494482 by marafon, translation #3819303 by CK
- Перестаньте разговаривать, пожалуйста. Мы должны продолжать встречу.Please stop talking. We need to continue the meeting.
- Перестань разговаривать, пожалуйста. Давай лучше сконцентрируемся на фильме.Please stop talking. Let's focus on the movie instead.
- 5 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sergey and Ekaterina are in a library trying to study.
- Сергей SergeyПожалуйста, перестань говорить.Pozhaluysta, perestan' govorit'.Please, stop talking.
- Екатерина EkaterinaИзвини, я просто шептала.Izvini, ya prosto sheptala.Sorry, I was just whispering.
- Сергей SergeyНам нужно сосредоточиться.Nam nuzhno sosredotochit'sya.We need to concentrate.
- Екатерина EkaterinaХорошо, я замолчу.Khorosho, ya zamolchu.Okay, I'll be quiet.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries говорить, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
