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Want to know how to say "shut up!" in Italian? There are different ways to say the phrase, and some are more polite than others.
Steps
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Say shut up to a man in Italian . Stai zitto! The phrase is pronounced STY-dzee-toh. Put the emphasis on the first syllable. [1] X Research source
- This phrase will come across as rude to some because it’s an order.
- It’s also an informal way of speech, so it shouldn’t be said to, say, a teacher. It’s a direct command.
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Say shut up to a woman. This version is Stai zitta! It’s pronounced STY-dzee-tah.
- Put the emphasis on the first syllable. [2] X Research source
- Use this term if you are telling a single person to shut up, not several people.
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Use slang words to say shut up. A more colloquial way of saying be quiet is “Taci!” Pronounce the word “Tah-chee.” It’s from the verb tacere, which means to go quiet. The word taci has been decreasing in popularity, though. [3] X Research source
- Sometimes people will shorten Stai zitto to zitto. Zitto’s plural is ziti and zitta is feminine. [4] X Research source
- Say Chiudi la bocca! This phrase means shut your mouth. Pronounce it kyoo-dee-LA-BOH-kah. Put the emphasis on the third and fourth syllables. This is considered an impolite way to say shut up because it literally means “shut your trap.” [5] X Research source
- Some dictionaries label it a vulgar term and say it means shut your mouth or shut your face. [6] X Research source
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Use a pronunciation guide. Before you try to say Italian words, take some time to understand how vowels and consonants sound in Italian. You can find many of these pronunciation guides online. [8] X Research source
- There are only 7 vowel sounds in Italian. When two or more vowels occur in a row, pronounce them separately. Some vowel sounds depend on the part of Italy you’re in.
- Most words in Italian are phonetic, meaning they are pronounced the way they are written.
- Most consonants sound similar to the way they are pronounced in English. [9] X Research source The exceptions are the consonants c and g. These vary depending on the letters that follow them. Pronounce double consonants more forcefully than single consonants. [10] X Research source
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Speak expressively. Italian is a very emotional language. Use your hands. Let your emotions out. Let them be wild, bold and expressive. [11] X Research source
- The key is to say Italian vowels short and clear. Don’t draw them out. In English, you may end with a gliding sound. Italian is more abrupt.
- Open your mouth wide to form a big and round vowel sound. For example, the letter "a" should be spoken with a wide open mouth. Say “aahh!”
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow do I say "be quiet" in Italian?Community Answer"Silenzio" or "silenzioso." You would use "silenzio" in situations where you need people to be quiet so you can say something yourself.
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QuestionIf you take the easy way out and say "shhhhh" will Italians know you mean to be quiet?Community AnswerYes. Or just hold your finger to your mouth without saying anything to sound more polite.
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QuestionHow rude is it to use the phrase Chiudi la bocca?Community AnswerVery rude. In fact, some people believe it's the equivalent to an English version of shut up that uses an expletive in the phrase.
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Warnings
- If you must tell someone to be quiet, err on the side of caution and use the more polite version.Thanks
- Make sure that you say shut up only in the right setting. If you're in a new environment, it can be risky to come across as rude.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-meaning-of/italian-word-stai_zitto.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWQ1frQezQs
- ↑ http://www.wordsense.eu/tacere/
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukFk25IjMpk
- ↑ http://italian.stackexchange.com/questions/5380/taci-sta-zitto-ways-to-say-shut-up-be-quiet-hush/5381
- ↑ https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-italian/shut
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukFk25IjMpk
- ↑ https://www.conversationexchange.com/resources/pronunciation/it/index.php?lg=en
- ↑ https://www.conversationexchange.com/resources/pronunciation/it/index.php?lg=en
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To tell a man to shut up in Italian, say “Stai zitto!,” which is pronounced STY-dzee-toh. Alternatively, if you’re speaking to woman, say “Stai zitta!,” pronounced STY-dzee-tah. If you want to tell someone to shut up politely, say “Silenzioso!,” which is pronounced SEE- lehn-tzee-oh-soh. To say “shut up” using slang, try saying “Taci!,” pronounced Tah-chee. For more tips, including how to pronounce vowels and consonants in Italian, keep reading!
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- "Being part the first generation, of only 1/2 Italians in my family, my mom, her siblings/parents would throw slang words around and words common to them, mixed in with our everyday English. I realized later (like here) some were really lost in translation!" ..." more
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"Being part the first generation, of only 1/2 Italians in my family, my mom, her siblings/parents would throw slang words around and words common to them, mixed in with our everyday English. I realized later (like here) some were really lost in translation!"
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"Great explanations and examples!"
