Italian Phrase
Evita parlare ad alta voce.
Meaning
The sentence is a polite command telling someone not to speak loudly. It is often used in places where quiet is expected, such as libraries, classrooms, or during a presentation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to ask a friend, a colleague, or a stranger to lower their voice. It works both in informal settings (with peers) and in semi‑formal contexts (e.g., a teacher speaking to a student). Adding ‘per favore’ softens the command.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Evitaparlareadaltavoce
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Evita’ is the informal second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘evitare’, used to give a direct command or advice.
Infinitive after imperative
When an imperative is followed by another verb, the second verb stays in the infinitive (e.g., ‘Evita parlare’).
Fixed expression ‘ad alta voce’
‘ad alta voce’ is an idiomatic phrase meaning ‘out loud / loudly’. The preposition ‘ad’ is used instead of ‘a’ before ‘alta voce’.
No ‘di’ needed
With ‘evitare’ you can say either ‘evita parlare…’ or ‘evita di parlare…’; the version without ‘di’ is more concise and common in spoken Italian.
🗨In Conversation
Scusa, sto cercando di studiare per l'esame.
Sorry, I'm trying to study for the exam.
Evita parlare ad alta voce, per favore.
Avoid speaking loudly, please.
✕Common Mistakes
Evita **di** parlare ad alta voce.
‘Evitare’ can be followed directly by an infinitive; adding ‘di’ is unnecessary in this concise command.
Evita parlare **a voce alta**.
The idiomatic expression is ‘ad alta voce’; ‘a voce alta’ sounds unnatural to native speakers.
↔Alternatives
Non parlare così forte.
Don't speak so loudly.
Mantieni il tono basso.
Keep your tone low.
Parla più piano.
Speak more quietly.
Cultural Tip
In Italy, speaking loudly in public spaces—especially in churches, libraries, museums, and on public transport—is often seen as impolite. Italians appreciate a calm, moderate volume. When you need to ask someone to be quieter, using the polite imperative with ‘per favore’ or a softer phrasing (e.g., ‘Potresti parlare più piano?’) is considered courteous.