Translation
mute, unable to speak; silent
Word origin
From Latin mutus, 'unable to speak', which was itself an imitation of an inarticulate sound - the mu a person makes with the lips closed. Greek mystery and English mum come from the same idea of a closed mouth.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- mutus
- English cognates
- mute, mutter
Examples
, .
He was born unable to speak, but he talks with his hands.
.
The girl stayed silent in front of the whole class.
.
After the news he sat there speechless and pale.
Two senses, and the difference between them matters.
Describing a person, means unable to speak. Modern usage in Esperanto follows modern usage in English: say what is true - , - and leave it there. The old compound surdamuta, deaf-and-mute, is still in older dictionaries and older books; it is dated in both languages and best left in them. Signolingvo is sign language, and a signing community is not a silent one.
The second sense is ordinary and carries no weight at all: temporarily saying nothing ( - to keep quiet, to be struck dumb by surprise), a for a silent film, and a for a letter you do not pronounce. Silenta is the neutral word for quiet, and it is the one you want when nothing about speech is at stake.
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muta: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Esperanto word "muta" (mute, unable to speak; silent): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 39.