Russian Vocabulary (and Wisdom)

This Rusian word is one of the top 1000 words in Russian. The complete list of most common Russian words is available here.

Meaning: to keep silence, make no complaint, say nothing

Pronunciation: [mahl-CHYAT']

Part of speech: verb (imperfective aspect)

Rank: #402 (see frequency list)

• Обещай, что будешь молчать.
• Promise that you will keep silent. (say nothing)
• Чего́ ты молчи́шь? Ты слы́шишь меня́?
• Why are you silent? Can you hear me?
• Он молчи́т и ничего́ мне не отвеча́ет.
• He keeps silent and doesn't reply a word to me.
• Не́которое вре́мя он молча́л, но пото́м сно́ва заговори́л.
• He was silent for some time but then started talking again.
• Она была очень растроена, но молчала.
• She was very upset but didn't complaint. (lit: kept silent)

• Молчать! = Shut up!; Hold your tongue!

• Говорить -- беда, а молчать -- другая.
• Evil flourishes in silence.
• Когда говорит оружие, музы молчат.
• In time of war, muses are silent.
• Кто не умеет молчать, тот не умеет и говорить.
• Не cannot speak well that cannot hold his tongue.

Present Tense

Past Tense

Future Simple Tense

The imperfective verb молчать is not used in the Future Simple Tense. Use the perfective verb помолчать instead.

Future Compound Tense

Imperative Mood (Command Form)

View full conjugation table for the verb pair молчать/помолчать