quieto
still
adjective KYEH-toh Rare
Origin: From Latin quietus.
Also means
calm, motionless
Usage Note
Quieto describes physical stillness rather than emotional calm (for calm use tranquilo). The command ¡Quieto! ('Freeze! / Stay still!') is used with animals and people alike. In the expression dejar quieto ('to leave alone') it means 'don't touch/disturb'. The feminine form is quieta and the noun is quietud ('stillness, quietude').
Examples
"El perro se quedó quieto ante el extraño."
Natural Translation
The dog stayed still in front of the stranger.
Related Words
Explore Spanish by topic
SpanishNow
6 min read