ENGLISH
REFERENCE

shh

interj.
A1 Beginner US //ʃ// UK //ˌɛsˌeɪtʃˈeɪtʃ// shh

interj. a sound you make to tell someone to be quiet. You use it when you want silence or to keep a secret.

interj. an utterance used to command silence or to request that someone speak more softly. Often used to signal the need for discretion or to maintain a quiet environment.


SIMPLE

Shh, the baby is finally sleeping.

CONTEXTUAL

The librarian turned to the group of students and whispered, 'Shh, people are trying to study'.

COMPLEX

Shh, don't let them hear us approaching the surprise party before we are ready to jump out.

Origin

From hush. Likely imitative of a nonverbal utterance. Compare Scots whisht (“hush!”).

Usage

Often used as a standalone command or placed at the beginning of a sentence to establish immediate silence.

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