Inklingo
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silencio

/see-LEN-syo/

silence

A tranquil scene of a perfectly still lake reflecting the moon and stars, emphasizing the absence of sound and movement.

The noun silencio refers to silence or the absence of sound, like the profound stillness of a quiet night.

silencio(Noun)

mA2

silence

?

the absence of sound

Also:

quiet

?

a state of calm or stillness

📝 In Action

Me gusta el silencio de la mañana.

A2

I like the silence of the morning.

Hubo un silencio incómodo después de su comentario.

B1

There was an awkward silence after his comment.

El profesor pidió silencio a los estudiantes.

B1

The teacher asked the students for silence.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • calma (calm)
  • tranquilidad (tranquility)

Antonyms

  • ruido (noise)
  • sonido (sound)

Common Collocations

  • guardar silencio – to keep silent
  • romper el silencio – to break the silence
  • un minuto de silencio – a minute of silence

Idioms & Expressions

  • el silencio es oro – Silence is golden.

💡 Grammar Points

It's a Masculine Word

Even though it doesn't describe a male person, 'silencio' is a masculine word in Spanish. Always pair it with 'el' or 'un', like 'el silencio'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

'Silencio' vs. 'Callado'

Mistake: "Trying to say 'The boy is silence.' ('El niño es silencio.')"

Correction: Use 'callado' for people: 'El niño está callado.' ('The boy is quiet'). 'Silencio' describes a place or situation, not a person's state of being.

⭐ Usage Tips

Keeping Quiet: 'Guardar silencio'

A very common and natural way to say 'to keep quiet' is 'guardar silencio'. It literally means 'to keep silence'. You'll hear it often in movies and formal situations.

A friendly librarian character making the 'shush' gesture with a finger over their lips, commanding quietness.

As an interjection, ¡Silencio! is a direct command meaning 'Quiet!' or 'Hush!', often used to ask a group to stop making noise.

silencio(Interjection)

A1

Silence!

?

a command to be quiet

Also:

Quiet!

?

a request to stop making noise

,

Hush!

?

an informal way to ask for quiet

📝 In Action

¡Silencio, por favor! La película va a empezar.

A1

Quiet, please! The movie is about to start.

—Mamá, mamá... —¡Silencio! Estoy en una llamada.

A2

—Mom, Mom... —Hush! I'm on a call.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ¡Calla! (Be quiet! (informal, singular))
  • ¡Cállate! (Shut up! (can be rude))

Antonyms

❌ Common Pitfalls

Watch Your Tone

Mistake: "Using '¡Silencio!' in a casual chat when you want to interrupt."

Correction: Try a softer phrase like 'Un momento, por favor'. '¡Silencio!' is a direct command and can sound bossy or rude if you're not careful.

⭐ Usage Tips

Perfect for Groups

'¡Silencio!' is very useful when you need to get a whole group of people to be quiet, like in a classroom, library, or theater. It's a one-size-fits-all command.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: silencio

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly describes a quiet place?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

silenciar(to silence, to mute) - verb
silencioso(silent, quiet) - adjective
silenciosamente(silently, quietly) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'silencio' and 'callado'?

'Silencio' is a noun that describes a state of quietness in a place (like 'el silencio de la noche' - 'the silence of the night'). 'Callado' is an adjective that describes a person who is being quiet ('él está callado' - 'he is quiet'). So, a place has 'silencio', and a person is 'callado'.

Is saying '¡Silencio!' rude?

It can be, depending on your tone and the situation. It's a direct command. To a noisy classroom, it's normal. To a friend, it might sound a bit harsh. Adding 'por favor' ('¡Silencio, por favor!') makes it much more polite.