silence
sil·ence/ˈsaɪlən(t)s/noun, verb, interjection
silence is spelled S-I-L-E-N-C-E: 7 letters and 2 syllables (sil·ence). It appears 29 times per million words in written English, the 3,218th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data, counting Silence, the name). As a noun, silence means “The absence of any sound” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of silence is silences.
How many letters and syllables are in silence?
| Letters | 7: S-I-L-E-N-C-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: sil·ence |
| In writing | 29 times per million words; the 3,218th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is silence?
Silence appears 29 times per million words in written English, the 3,218th most frequent word form in the list. The list counts every capitalisation together, so this includes Silence, the name.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce silence?
- /ˈsaɪlən(t)s/
- [ˈsaɪ̯ləns] ~ [ˈsaɪ̯ln̩s]
Silence has 2 syllables, split sil·ence in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-silence.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with silence?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as silence.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: license.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of silence
- silences plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- silencing participle, present
- silenced participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does silence mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The absence of any sound.
When the motor stopped, the silence was almost deafening.
- 2
The act of refraining from speaking.
"You have the right to silence," said the police officer.
- 3
Refraining from speaking, for purposes of prayer or meditation; especially, a form of worship practiced by the Society of Friends (Quakers) during meetings.
During silence a message came to me that there was that of God in every person.
verb
- 1
To make (someone or something) silent.
Can you silence the crowd, so we can start the show?
- 2
To repress the expression of something.
Women, as well as children, have their thoughts or emotions routinely silenced.
- 3
To suppress criticism, etc.
Silence the critics.
- 4
To block gene expression.
- 5
To murder.
interjection
- 1
Be silent.
Silence! Enough of your insolence!
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Silence in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | silence , silence! |
| German | Stille, Schweigen , Ruhe! , zum Schweigen bringen |
| Portuguese | silêncio , silêncio! , silenciar |
| Spanish | silencio , ¡cállate! , silenciar , sho , hacer callar |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does silence come from?
From Middle English silence, from Old French silence, from Latin silentium (“silence”), from silēns (“quiet, silent”, present participle of silēre) + -ium. Displaced native Old English swīġe and sālnes.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).