Silent in Different Languages
Discover 'Silent' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'silent' holds a profound significance in our daily lives, often acting as a reminder to appreciate the quiet moments amidst the noise. Its cultural importance is evident in various art forms, such as literature and film, where it can convey deep emotions and nuanced meanings. For instance, Harper Lee's novel 'To Kill a Mockingbird' uses silence as a powerful tool to explore racial injustice.
Moreover, understanding the translation of 'silent' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how diverse cultures perceive and express quietness. For example, the Spanish translation of 'silent' is 'silencioso', while in French, it is 'silencieux'. In German, the word for silent is 'still', which also means calm, further emphasizing the tranquility associated with silence.
Delving into the translations of 'silent' not only enriches our vocabulary but also deepens our appreciation for the unique ways different cultures communicate and perceive the world around them.
Silent
Silent in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | stil | ||
| "Stil" in Afrikaans can also mean "quiet", "calm" or "still". | |||
| Amharic | ዝም | ||
| The Amharic word "ዝም" can also refer to a type of traditional bread or to the sound of a bell. | |||
| Hausa | shiru | ||
| The word "shiru" derives from the Proto-West-Atlantic root "-shir" meaning "to be numb, paralyzed, or dead," suggesting a figurative extension from the state of physical silence to the state of figurative silence. | |||
| Igbo | nkịtị | ||
| Igbo "nkịtị" also refers to a mute or deaf-mute individual, and may derive from "kpịtị" (to make dumb or deaf) or "kwịtị" (to be dumb or mute). | |||
| Malagasy | mangina | ||
| The word 'mangina' can also mean 'deaf' or 'dumb' in Malagasy. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | chete | ||
| The word "chete" in Nyanja (Chichewa) can also mean "only" or "just". | |||
| Shona | nyarara | ||
| The Shona word "nyarara" also means "to be patient" or "to wait." | |||
| Somali | aamus | ||
| "Aamus" also refers to an omen and a type of dance in Somali. | |||
| Sesotho | khutsa | ||
| In Sesotho, the word "khutsa" also refers to the act of silencing someone or remaining silent. | |||
| Swahili | kimya | ||
| The word "kimya" in Swahili shares its root with the word "chema" in Luganda, which means "something sacred or mysterious." | |||
| Xhosa | cwaka | ||
| The Xhosa word cwaka has no literal meaning, but is often used to describe a state of quiet or stillness. | |||
| Yoruba | ipalọlọ | ||
| The Yoruba word "ipalọlọ" also refers to a type of dance associated with masquerades. | |||
| Zulu | athule | ||
| Athule is also derived from Zulu words for peace, tranquility, and solitude. | |||
| Bambara | dotugu | ||
| Ewe | zi ɖoɖoe | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ceceka | ||
| Lingala | nye | ||
| Luganda | okusirika | ||
| Sepedi | homotšego | ||
| Twi (Akan) | dinn | ||
Silent in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | صامتة | ||
| The word "صامتة" has a number of meanings besides its most common meaning of "silent": it can also mean "consonant" or "dumb". | |||
| Hebrew | שקט | ||
| "שקט" can also refer to a time of death or repose. This meaning has likely roots in a parallel meaning in Aramaic: 'cessation, rest'. Some suggest it might be linked to its similar sounding Sanskrit cognate: 'shama, śānta.' | |||
| Pashto | غلی | ||
| The word "غلی" can also refer to a type of cloth or fabric. | |||
| Arabic | صامتة | ||
| The word "صامتة" has a number of meanings besides its most common meaning of "silent": it can also mean "consonant" or "dumb". | |||
Silent in Western European Languages
| Albanian | i heshtur | ||
| The Albanian word "i heshtur" can also mean "the silent one" or "the one who is silent". | |||
| Basque | isilik | ||
| This word may ultimately trace back to an Indo-European root that also gave rise to the Proto-Indo-European word for "night". | |||
| Catalan | en silenci | ||
| (Catalan) The noun "silèncis" (plural form of "silènci") may also refer to musical rests in compositions. | |||
| Croatian | nijemo | ||
| Croatian 'nijemo' is related to 'mute' and to 'dumb' and derives from the root 'nem-' meaning 'not' or 'lacking'. | |||
| Danish | stille | ||
| The word "stille" in Danish, derived from the Germanic "stilan" or "stillare," carries the primary meaning of "calm" or "tranquil" and can also refer to the "cessation of movement," encompassing concepts beyond mere absence of sound. | |||
| Dutch | stil | ||
| The Dutch word "stil" can also refer to a style, fashion, or manner. | |||
| English | silent | ||
| The term 'silent' can also be used figuratively, to refer to something that is suppressed or concealed. | |||
| French | silencieux | ||
| Derived from the Latin word "silere" meaning "to be silent" or "to keep silent", the French word "silencieux" maintains the primary meaning of "silent" while also carrying the meaning of "muffler" or "silencer". | |||
| Frisian | stil | ||
| The Frisian word "stil" also means "still" or "calm". | |||
| Galician | en silencio | ||
| In Galician, "en silencio" can also mean "discreetly" or "without making a fuss" | |||
| German | leise | ||
| The word is sometimes used as a prefix meaning "softly" or "gently". | |||
| Icelandic | þegjandi | ||
| The same word in Icelandic, "þegjandi," derives from a word in Old Norse with the same meaning but which also meant "patient". | |||
| Irish | adh | ||
| "Adh" can also mean "oath" or "vow". | |||
| Italian | silenzioso | ||
| In Italian, 'silenzioso' can also refer to a person or thing that is 'calm' or 'peaceful'. | |||
| Luxembourgish | roueg | ||
| The word "roueg" originates from the Old High German word "rowig", meaning "restful" or "quiet". | |||
| Maltese | siekta | ||
| The word "siekta" is of Arabic origin, and it also means "calm" or "peaceful". | |||
| Norwegian | stille | ||
| In Old Norse, stille means "to stand," reflecting the stillness associated with silence. | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | silencioso | ||
| "Silencioso" can also mean "peaceful" or "quiet" in Portuguese. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | sàmhach | ||
| The Gaelic word `sàmhach` originally referred to a calm sea, and also means 'lonely' or 'peaceful'. | |||
| Spanish | silencio | ||
| The word "silencio" in Spanish shares the same root as "syllabus" and "syllable" and originally referred to the written text of a speech or other vocal performance. | |||
| Swedish | tyst | ||
| "Tyst" also means "quiet" or "dull" in Swedish, and derives from the Germanic word "thustaz," meaning "silent" or "dark." | |||
| Welsh | distaw | ||
| "Distaw" means "silent" in Welsh, and its etymology suggests a hidden or secret sound. | |||
Silent in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | маўчаць | ||
| The word "маўчаць" also means "to withhold information" or "to be silent about something" in Belarusian. | |||
| Bosnian | nijemo | ||
| The word 'nijemo' is derived from the Proto-Slavic word 'němъ', which originally meant 'speechless' or 'mute'. | |||
| Bulgarian | мълчи | ||
| The word "мълчи" is also used in Bulgarian to mean "to be quiet" or "to keep a secret". | |||
| Czech | tichý | ||
| The word "tichý" can also mean "calm" or "peaceful" in Czech. | |||
| Estonian | vaikne | ||
| The Estonian word "vaikne" is cognate with the Finnish "vaikenea" and Hungarian "hallgat", all meaning "to be silent". | |||
| Finnish | hiljainen | ||
| The word 'hiljainen' is etymologically related to 'hiljaisuus', which means 'silence or stillness', and 'hiljastyä', which means 'to grow silent'. | |||
| Hungarian | csendes | ||
| The word "csendes" also means "calm" or "peaceful" in Hungarian. | |||
| Latvian | kluss | ||
| The word 'kluss' has also been used in Latvian to describe something 'not worth mentioning' since 1783. | |||
| Lithuanian | tyli | ||
| Originating from the word "tylus", "tyli" is also an Old Church Slavonic loanword and is related to words such as "tyly" (back), "tylus" (quiet), and "tylu" (peace). | |||
| Macedonian | молчи | ||
| Another meaning of the word "молчи" is "the silence". | |||
| Polish | cichy | ||
| In Old Polish, the word "cichy" also meant "hidden" or "invisible". | |||
| Romanian | tăcut | ||
| The Romanian word "tăcut" (silent) is related to the Albanian "të qetë" (peaceful), the Bulgarian "тих" (calm), and the Hungarian "csendes" (peaceful). | |||
| Russian | тихий | ||
| The word "тихий" can also mean "calm", "peaceful", or "gentle" in Russian. | |||
| Serbian | ћути | ||
| Ћути comes from the Proto-Slavic word *kotъ, meaning “cat”, and is related to the word “ћућорити”, meaning “to purr”. | |||
| Slovak | ticho | ||
| "Ticho" can also refer to a Czech folk music, similar to polka. | |||
| Slovenian | tiho | ||
| Derived from Proto-Slavic, "tiho" is also used figuratively to describe the quality of something that does not make sound. | |||
| Ukrainian | мовчазний | ||
| "Мовчазний" in Ukrainian can also mean "speechless" or "mute". | |||
Silent in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | নীরব | ||
| The Bengali word "নীরব" is derived from Sanskrit "नीरव" (nir-rava, without sound) and also means "still" or "motionless". | |||
| Gujarati | મૌન | ||
| The Sanskrit word “mšuna”, meaning 'dumb,' is the root of the Gujarati word “māun”, meaning 'silent,' which also has the alternate meaning of 'dumb' or 'mute.' | |||
| Hindi | मूक | ||
| Kannada | ಮೂಕ | ||
| The Kannada word "ಮೂಕ" has an alternate meaning of "mute", as someone incapable of speaking. | |||
| Malayalam | നിശബ്ദത | ||
| Marathi | शांत | ||
| The word 'शांत' also means 'peaceful' or 'calm' in Marathi. | |||
| Nepali | मौन | ||
| The word "मौन" also means "vow of silence" in a religious context. | |||
| Punjabi | ਚੁੱਪ | ||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | නිහ .යි | ||
| The word 'නිහ .යි' in Sinhala can also mean 'not talking' or 'at rest'. | |||
| Tamil | அமைதியாக | ||
| The Tamil word "அமைதியாக" can also refer to the quality of being calm or peaceful. | |||
| Telugu | నిశ్శబ్దంగా | ||
| Urdu | خاموش | ||
| The word خاموش (silent) can also refer to a type of musical pause used in qawwali performance. | |||
Silent in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 无声 | ||
| 无声 (wúshēng) also means 'quietly' or 'without speaking'. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 無聲 | ||
| 無聲 is also used to describe a musical instrument with no sound or a weapon that makes no noise. | |||
| Japanese | サイレント | ||
| 'サイレント' is also a loanword meaning 'cyclone', written with different kanji (サイクロン). | |||
| Korean | 조용한 | ||
| "조용한" was originally used to describe a place surrounded by trees and was later used to mean "quiet". | |||
| Mongolian | чимээгүй | ||
| The word "чимээгүй" in Mongolian can also mean "unresponsive" or "without sound". | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | တိတ်ဆိတ် | ||
Silent in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | diam | ||
| The word "diam" is derived from the Old Javanese word "di-am" which means "to stop speaking". | |||
| Javanese | meneng wae | ||
| In Javanese, "meneng wae" also means "do nothing" or "be idle". | |||
| Khmer | ស្ងាត់ | ||
| Lao | ງຽບ | ||
| The word | |||
| Malay | senyap | ||
| The root word of "senyap" is "yap" which means noise, its opposite meaning is denoted by the negative prefix "se-". | |||
| Thai | เงียบ | ||
| The word "เงียบ" is derived from the Proto-Austroasiatic language, likely meaning "to rest" or "to be calm". | |||
| Vietnamese | im lặng | ||
| "Im lặng" can also be translated as "be quiet" in English. | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tahimik | ||
Silent in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | səssiz | ||
| The word "səssiz" in Azerbaijani can also mean "calm" or "peaceful." | |||
| Kazakh | үнсіз | ||
| "Үнсіз" is also used to refer to the voiceless consonants in linguistics. | |||
| Kyrgyz | үнсүз | ||
| "үнсүз" means "consonant" in the phonetic sense (as opposed to "vowel"), which is not immediately obvious from its literal meaning "without sound/voice". | |||
| Tajik | хомӯш | ||
| The word "хомӯш" in Tajik can also mean "to keep a secret" or "to be quiet and reserved." | |||
| Turkmen | dymdy | ||
| Uzbek | jim | ||
| In Uzbek, "jim" also refers to a silent letter in the Arabic alphabet. | |||
| Uyghur | جىمجىت | ||
Silent in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | hāmau | ||
| The word hāmau can also mean "to quench thirst" or "to relieve hunger". | |||
| Maori | puku | ||
| In Maori, "puku" can also refer to a large stomach, a full bladder, or a swollen area. | |||
| Samoan | filemu | ||
| In Samoan, "filemu" also refers to something hidden or concealed | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | tahimik | ||
| Tahimik is also a term used in Philippine martial arts which can mean both a state of being silent as well as the act of silencing an opponent. | |||
Silent in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | amukiña | ||
| Guarani | kirirĩme | ||
Silent in International Languages
| Esperanto | silenta | ||
| Esperanto's "silenta" originates from Latin, meaning "a forest" and "sylvan." | |||
| Latin | tacet | ||
| Tacet in Latin can also refer to a section of a musical score where a voice or instrument is silent. | |||
Silent in Others Languages
| Greek | σιωπηλός | ||
| In Ancient Greek, "σιωπηλός" also meant "calm sea" | |||
| Hmong | uas ntsiag to | ||
| In the Hmong Daw script, the word "uas ntsiag to" can be interpreted to also mean "deaf" or "mute". | |||
| Kurdish | bêdeng | ||
| The word 'bêdeng' also means 'deaf' or 'mute' in Kurdish. | |||
| Turkish | sessiz | ||
| "Sessiz" can also mean "soundless" or "still" in Turkish. | |||
| Xhosa | cwaka | ||
| The Xhosa word cwaka has no literal meaning, but is often used to describe a state of quiet or stillness. | |||
| Yiddish | שטיל | ||
| In Yiddish, 'שטיל' can also mean 'calm', 'tranquil', or 'unmoving'. | |||
| Zulu | athule | ||
| Athule is also derived from Zulu words for peace, tranquility, and solitude. | |||
| Assamese | নীৰৱ | ||
| Aymara | amukiña | ||
| Bhojpuri | खामोश | ||
| Dhivehi | އަޑުމަޑު | ||
| Dogri | खमोश | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | tahimik | ||
| Guarani | kirirĩme | ||
| Ilocano | naulimek | ||
| Krio | nɔ de tɔk | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | بێدەنگ | ||
| Maithili | मूक | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯇꯨꯃꯤꯟꯅ ꯂꯩꯕ | ||
| Mizo | reh | ||
| Oromo | callisaa | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଚୁପ୍ | ||
| Quechua | upallalla | ||
| Sanskrit | शांत | ||
| Tatar | эндәшми | ||
| Tigrinya | ፀጥታ | ||
| Tsonga | miyela | ||