German Phrase
Bleib mal kurz still.
Meaning
‘Bleib mal kurz still.’ is a casual way to ask someone to stop talking for a short moment. It combines a direct command with the softening particle ‘mal’ and the adverb ‘kurz’ to keep the request friendly and brief.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal settings – with friends, classmates, or coworkers you know well – when you need a brief period of silence, e.g., while studying, listening to a presentation, or trying to hear something.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Bleibmalkurzstill
Imperative (du) – Bleib
‘Bleib’ is the du‑imperative of the verb *bleiben* (to stay). For du‑imperatives, drop the infinitive ending and add –(e) b, e.g., *bleiben → bleib*.
Particle ‘mal’
‘mal’ is a colloquial particle that softens a command, roughly equivalent to ‘just’ or ‘for a sec’ in English.
Adverb ‘kurz’
‘kurz’ modifies the verb phrase and means ‘briefly’ or ‘for a short time’.
Adjective used adverbially – still
‘still’ is originally an adjective meaning ‘quiet, silent’; in this construction it functions adverbially, telling someone to be quiet.
🗨In Conversation
Bleib mal kurz still, ich muss mich konzentrieren.
Stay quiet for a moment, I need to concentrate.
Klar, kein Problem.
Sure, no problem.
✕Common Mistakes
Bleibe mal kurz still.
‘Bleibe’ is the infinitive or a subjunctive form; the correct du‑imperative is ‘Bleib’.
Bleib mal kurz stillen.
‘Stillen’ is a verb meaning ‘to calm’; here you need the adjective ‘still’.
Bleib kurzmal still.
‘Kurzmal’ is not a word; the adverb ‘kurz’ and particle ‘mal’ stay separate.
↔Alternatives
Sei bitte kurz still.
Please be quiet for a moment.
Halt kurz die Klappe.
Shut up for a moment. (very informal, can be rude)
Schweig kurz.
Be silent briefly. (more formal)
Cultural Tip
In German, adding ‘mal’ to an imperative makes the request sound less commanding and more friendly. ‘Bleib still’ alone can feel abrupt; ‘Bleib mal kurz still’ softens it and signals that you only need a short pause. Remember that ‘still’ is common in spoken German, but in very formal contexts you might prefer ‘sei still’ or ‘schweige’.