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Quieten It Down!

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "quieten it down!" is a common command meaning "be quiet!" or "settle down!" It’s the everyday imperative form of the older verb "quieten."

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #PeopleandRelationships   #DialectandGrammar   #Southern   #ScoldingandTeasing

Pronunciation

[KWY-uh-tən it DOWN] /ˈkwaɪətən ɪt daʊn/

Meaning & Usage

- Command to hush or calm a group (imperative phrase)

In a classroom
Mae:
Kids, quieten it down now!

variations: calm down, hush up, quiet down, settle down
★ While "quiet down" is heard across the U.S., "quieten down" (or "quieten it down") is especially associated with the South/Appalachia, preserving the older British verb form "quieten." ★

Origin and Etymology

From older British English "quieten" (18th-19th c.). The imperative "quieten it down" is recorded in Southern/Appalachian speech as the everyday way to hush a group.

Usage Notes

Still widely heard in homes, churches, and classrooms in the South/Appalachia. Outside the region, "quiet down" is more common but "quieten it down" is understood.

Say It Like a Southerner

Say it natural: "KWY-’n it down" - the middle syllables are light and clipped in Southern/Appalachian speech.

Kin Topics

Related Pages

Common Questions

Does "quieten it down" mean the same as "quiet down"?
Yes - just the regional form.
Is it still used today?
Yes - especially among older speakers, but younger Southerners know it too.
Can you drop the "it"?
Absolutely - "Quieten down!" is also very common.

How to Cite This Page

  • APA (7th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 20). Quieten It Down!. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/quieten-it-down
  • MLA (9th edition)
    "The Hillbilly Dude." "Quieten It Down!." HillbillySlang.com, 20 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/quieten-it-down.
  • Chicago (17th edition)
    The Hillbilly Dude. "Quieten It Down!." HillbillySlang.com. September 20, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/quieten-it-down.
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