# shh

/ʃ/ (US) · /ˌɛsˌeɪtʃˈeɪtʃ/ (UK) · CEFR A1 · Interjection

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shh
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- Shh, the baby is finally sleeping.
- The librarian turned to the group of students and whispered, 'Shh, people are trying to study'.
- Shh, don't let them hear us approaching the surprise party before we are ready to jump out.

## Usage notes

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

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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.