Calme is one of the most common ways to say "quiet" in French. But there are several other options. As you learn French, you might find yourself in situations where you need to describe a quiet place, a quiet person, or simply ask for quiet. Let's explore 9 different ways to express the idea of "quiet" in French, adding nuance and richness to your vocabulary!

The 'calm' or 'peaceful' – calme

The French word calme is a versatile term, primarily functioning as both an adjective meaning "calm" or "peaceful" and a noun referring to "calmness" or "peace."

As an adjective, calme describes a state of tranquility, absence of agitation, or quietness. It can apply to people, places, or situations.

Interestingly, calme is one of those adjectives that does not change its form for gender in the singular. So, it's un homme calme (a calm man) and une femme calme (a calm woman). However, it does agree in number: des hommes calmes (calm men) and des femmes calmes (calm women).

You'll often hear it used to describe a serene person (Elle est très calme - She is very calm), a quiet place (C'est un endroit calme - It's a calm place), or a peaceful situation (La situation est calme - The situation is calm).

When used as a noun, le calme (masculine) refers to the state of calm, peace, or tranquility itself. It can also mean quietness or stillness.

For example, you might seek le calme de la campagne (the calm of the countryside) or appreciate le calme avant la tempête (the calm before the storm).

Several common expressions use calme:

• Garder son calme: To keep one's calm/composure.
• Rester calme: To stay calm.
• Du calme !: Calm down! / Be quiet! (often used to tell someone to relax or quiet down).

💡 * Il est toujours très calme, même sous pression. (He is always very calm, even under pressure.)

• J'aime le calme de ce petit village. (I love the calm of this small village.)
• Elle a réussi à garder son calme pendant la réunion. (She managed to keep her calm during the meeting.)
• Les enfants étaient calmes après leur sieste. (The children were calm after their nap.)
• Du calme, tout va bien se passer. (Calm down, everything is going to be alright.)

The 'silent' or 'noiseless' – silencieux/silencieuse

When you want to describe something or someone as silent or noiseless in French, the adjective you'll reach for is silencieux (masculine) or silencieuse (feminine).

As an adjective, silencieux/silencieuse must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For plural forms, you'll add an 's': silencieux (masculine plural) and silencieuses (feminine plural).

Its primary meaning relates to the absence of sound. It can describe a place, a person, an object, or even an action. Think of a library, a quiet person, or a car engine that makes no noise.

When describing a person, silencieux/silencieuse often implies someone who is quiet by nature, reserved, or not speaking at a particular moment. For places, it denotes tranquility and a lack of disturbance.

You might hear phrases like un film silencieux (a silent film), une pièce silencieuse (a silent room), or rester silencieux (to remain silent).

Beyond literal sound, silencieux/silencieuse can also be used figuratively. For example, une protestation silencieuse refers to a silent protest, or un accord silencieux means a tacit agreement, implying something unspoken.

💡 * La bibliothèque est très silencieuse. (The library is very silent.)

• Mon nouveau ventilateur est silencieux. (My new fan is silent.)
• Elle est restée silencieuse pendant toute la réunion. (She remained silent throughout the entire meeting.)
• Nous avons eu une marche silencieuse pour la paix. (We had a silent march for peace.)
• C'est une personne silencieuse mais très observatrice. (He/She is a quiet but very observant person.)

The 'discreet' or 'unobtrusive' – discret/discrète

The French adjective discret (masculine) or discrète (feminine) translates to 'discreet' or 'unobtrusive' in English. It's used to describe someone or something that is reserved and doesn't draw attention.

Beyond just 'quiet,' discret/discrète often implies a sense of tact, modesty, or the ability to keep a secret. It suggests a thoughtful avoidance of making oneself or something too obvious.

As with most French adjectives, discret must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. Use discret for masculine singular nouns and discrète for feminine singular nouns.

The plural forms follow the standard rules: discrets for masculine plural nouns (or mixed groups) and discrètes for feminine plural nouns.

This adjective can describe a person's personality (e.g., 'un homme discret'), their actions (e.g., 'faire un geste discret'), or even objects and sounds (e.g., 'une couleur discrète', 'un bruit discret').

A key aspect of being discret/discrète is often the ability to maintain confidentiality. Someone discret is trustworthy with private information and respects boundaries.

💡 * Il est très discret, il ne parle jamais de ses problèmes. (He is very discreet, he never talks about his problems.)

• Elle a choisi une robe discrète pour la cérémonie. (She chose a discreet dress for the ceremony.)
• Les bruits étaient discrets, on ne les entendait presque pas. (The noises were discreet, we hardly heard them.)
• Soyez discrets, s'il vous plaît, nous sommes dans une bibliothèque. (Please be discreet, we are in a library.)

The 'tranquil' or 'serene' – tranquille

The “tranquil” or “serene” – tranquille

The French word tranquille directly translates to “tranquil,” “calm,” “peaceful,” or “serene” in English. It describes a state of calmness or quietness, often referring to a person, place, or situation.

Tranquille functions as an adjective and is notable for being invariable in gender and number. This means it doesn't change its form, whether it's describing a masculine, feminine, singular, or plural noun. For example, un homme tranquille (a calm man) and une femme tranquille (a calm woman).

Beyond its literal meaning, tranquille is incredibly versatile and often used informally. It can mean “don't worry,” “it's fine,” or even “chill out.” Common expressions include être tranquille (to be calm/peaceful) and laisser tranquille (to leave alone).

💡 * Je suis tranquille ici. (I am peaceful here.)

• Laisse-moi tranquille ! (Leave me alone!)
• C'est une soirée tranquille à la maison. (It's a quiet evening at home.)
• Tout est tranquille, ne t'inquiète pas. (Everything is fine, don't worry.)
• Les enfants sont tranquilles dans leur chambre. (The children are quiet in their room.)

The 'hushed' or 'low-pitched' (for sound) – sourd/sourde

The 'hushed' or 'low-pitched' (for sound) – sourd/sourde

While sourd/sourde primarily means 'deaf,' it also describes sounds that are hushed, muffled, low-pitched, or dull.

As an adjective, sourd agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use sourd for masculine singular nouns and sourde for feminine singular nouns. For plural, it's sourds (masculine) and sourdes (feminine).

It's crucial to understand the context. When referring to sound, sourd implies a lack of clarity or a subdued quality, not an inability to hear. For example, a 'bruit sourd' is a dull, muffled sound, not a sound made by a deaf person.

You'll often hear sourd used with words like bruit (noise), voix (voice), son (sound), or plainte (complaint). It evokes a sense of something suppressed, distant, or lacking resonance.

When describing a sound that isn't sharp, clear, or loud, but rather subdued, muffled, or deep and indistinct, sourd/sourde is the perfect adjective.

💡 * J'ai entendu un bruit sourd venant du sous-sol. (I heard a dull thud coming from the basement.)

• Sa voix sourde était à peine audible. (His hushed voice was barely audible.)
• Un son sourd et lointain résonnait dans la vallée. (A muffled and distant sound echoed in the valley.)
• Elle a poussé une plainte sourde de douleur. (She let out a muffled groan of pain.)

The 'softly' or 'gently' (adverb, for doing something quietly) – doucement

The “softly” or “gently” (adverb, for doing something quietly) – doucement

Doucement is a versatile French adverb derived from the adjective doux (soft, gentle). It primarily means “gently,” “softly,” or “slowly,” depending on the context, and is crucial for describing careful or quiet actions.

When describing an action, doucement indicates that something is done with care, without force, or quietly. For instance, you might say parler doucement (to speak softly) or ouvrir la porte doucement (to open the door gently), emphasizing the delicate nature of the action.

It's also commonly used as an imperative to advise caution, similar to “careful!” or “take it easy!” in English. For example, if someone is rushing, being too rough, or consuming something too quickly, you might hear the exclamation 'Doucement !'.

Beyond gentleness, doucement can also refer to pace, meaning “slowly” or “gradually,” especially when talking about progress or movement. It implies a measured, unhurried approach, as in avancer doucement (to advance slowly).

💡 *Parle doucement, le bébé dort. (Speak softly, the baby is sleeping.)
*Tiens le verre doucement, il est fragile. (Hold the glass gently, it is fragile.)
*Doucement ! Ne va pas si vite. (Careful! Don't go so fast.)
*Les choses avancent doucement mais sûrement. (Things are progressing slowly but surely.)
*Allez-y doucement avec le sucre. (Go easy on the sugar.)

The 'be quiet!' or 'hush!' (imperative) – Chut! or Tais-toi!/Taisez-vous!

The interjection Chut! is the French equivalent of “hush!” or “shhh!”. It’s a softer, less confrontational way to ask for silence, often used to quiet down a group or to signal someone to be quiet without being rude. It does not conjugate.

For a more direct and imperative command to "be quiet!", you use Tais-toi! (informal singular) or Taisez-vous! (formal singular or plural). These are reflexive verb forms derived from se taire (to be silent). Tais-toi! is used when speaking to one person informally, while Taisez-vous! is used for one person formally or for multiple people.

The choice between Chut! and Tais-toi!/Taisez-vous! depends on the context and the desired level of politeness or urgency. Chut! is a gentle request, suitable for situations like a library or when a baby is sleeping. Tais-toi! or Taisez-vous! are stronger commands, used when more direct action is needed, but can sound harsh if not used carefully.

💡 * Chut! Le bébé dort. (Hush! The baby is sleeping.)

• Le professeur a dit "Chut!" aux élèves bavards. (The teacher said "Hush!" to the chatty students.)
• Tais-toi! J'essaie de me concentrer. (Be quiet! I'm trying to concentrate.)
• Taisez-vous, s'il vous plaît! La réunion a commencé. (Be quiet, please! The meeting has started.)

The 'quietness' or 'stillness' (noun) – le silence / le calme

In French, to express the concepts of 'quietness' or 'stillness' as nouns, you will primarily use two words: le silence and le calme.

Le silence specifically refers to the absence of sound or a state of quietness. It can be profound or a simple lack of noise, often emphasizing the auditory aspect.

Le calme, on the other hand, denotes a broader sense of stillness, tranquility, or peacefulness. It can refer to the absence of sound, but also to a state of mental serenity or a lack of agitation (e.g., calm sea, calm person).

While both can overlap, remember that le silence focuses purely on sound, whereas le calme encompasses a more general sense of peace and lack of disturbance, both audibly and visually/emotionally.

💡 * Le silence était profond dans la forêt. (The silence was deep in the forest.)

• J'apprécie le calme de la campagne. (I appreciate the peace/calm of the countryside.)
• Après la tempête, le calme est revenu. (After the storm, calm returned.)
• Il a demandé le silence dans la salle. (He asked for silence in the room.)
• Elle a trouvé le calme intérieur après la méditation. (She found inner peace after meditation.)

The 'to keep quiet' or 'to shut up' (verb) – se taire

The French verb se taire literally means 'to quiet oneself' and is commonly translated as 'to keep quiet' or 'to shut up.' It's a reflexive verb, which means it always uses a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se, nous, vous, se) that agrees with the subject.

As a reflexive verb, se taire conjugates with the appropriate reflexive pronoun. Its root verb, taire, is irregular. Here's how it looks in the present tense: je me tais, tu te tais, il/elle/on se tait, nous nous taisons, vous vous taisez, ils/elles se taisent.

The most common way you'll hear se taire in everyday conversation is in its imperative form, often used to tell someone to be quiet. This can range from a firm request to a rude command, depending on context and tone: Tais-toi! (informal singular), Taisez-vous! (formal singular or plural), or Taisons-nous! (Let's be quiet!).

While se taire can be direct, its imperative form can sometimes sound harsh. For a softer way to ask someone to be quiet, you might use phrases like Faisons silence (Let's be quiet) or S'il vous plaît, un peu de silence (Please, a little quiet). However, se taire is the most direct and common verb for the action of quieting down.

💡 * Je me tais pour écouter la musique. (I keep quiet to listen to the music.)

• Il faut se taire pendant la conférence. (One must keep quiet during the conference.)
• Tais-toi! J'essaie de me concentrer. (Shut up! I'm trying to concentrate.)
• Taisez-vous, s'il vous plaît! (Be quiet, please!)
• Nous nous taisons quand le professeur parle. (We keep quiet when the teacher speaks.)

Are there other ways to say 'quiet' in French?

Are there other ways to say “quiet” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to say “quiet” in French. But there are other terms, from old-fashioned ones, to regional ones, to up-and-coming slang ones this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire silencieux en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting synonyms for silencieux or calme on this list. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about quietness or silence.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different kinds of quiet, or words about silence in French, the WordReference entries for silencieux and calme are great places to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Blaise Pascal: Tout le malheur des hommes vient d'une seule chose, qui est de ne savoir pas demeurer en repos dans une chambre. (All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.)