How to Say Shut Up in Italian

Co-authored by Ciccio Veronese

Last Updated: November 5, 2024 Fact Checked

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....

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Saying Shut Up as a Command

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1
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]
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- 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.
- Want to lean more about Italian pronunciation? We've got tips later in this article!
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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]
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- 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]
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- Sometimes people will shorten Stai zitto to zitto. Zitto’s plural is ziti and zitta is feminine.^{[4]
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- 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]
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- Some dictionaries label it a vulgar term and say it means shut your mouth or shut your face.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Saying Be Quiet More Politely

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Tell someone to be quiet in a more formal way. If you want to be more formal, you can say faccia silenzio per favore (be silent please).
- Silenzio! Be quiet (SEE- lehn-tzee-oh).
- Silenzio can certainly be a more polite version of the word when it's said in a quieter fashion (with an implied "please") and not as a "command".^{[7]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Pronouncing Italian Words Correctly

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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]
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- 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]
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  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]
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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]
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- 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!”

Community Q&A

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Question

How 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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If you take the easy way out and say "shhhhh" will Italians know you mean to be quiet?

Community Answer

Yes. Or just hold your finger to your mouth without saying anything to sound more polite.

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How rude is it to use the phrase Chiudi la bocca?

Community Answer

Very 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.

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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.

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