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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   #Southern   #Scoldin’andTeasin’

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

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.

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

Kin Words, Stories and More

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.
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