# qui

/ˈki/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/qui
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a person who is very quiet or does not speak much. You might use this word to describe someone who stays silent in a group.

For teachers: a person who is habitually quiet or reticent. Often used in literary or descriptive contexts to highlight a person's silence as a defining trait.

## Examples

- He was a bit of a qui in the meeting.
- The teacher noticed that the new student was a natural qui, preferring to observe the class rather than participate in discussions.
- In a family of loud and boisterous storytellers, her brother remained the family qui, absorbing every detail without ever feeling the need to contribute his own voice.

## Usage notes

- Typically used with the indefinite article 'a' to describe a personality type.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.