"Be quiet!"

Published by Naitik Mehta · April 3, 2026

Stuck on the clue "Be quiet!" from the New York Times Mini for April 3, 2026? We have the correct 3-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?

Clue

"Be quiet!" (3)

Answer

The answer to "Be quiet!" is Shh (3 letters).

Why does Shh fit this clue?

This is a direct definition clue where the quoted phrase "Be quiet!" points to SHH, an interjection used to tell someone to be silent. SHH is an onomatopoeia that mimics the hushing sound people make when they want others to stop talking or lower their voices. The exclamation point in the clue matches the urgent, commanding tone that SHH typically carries when spoken aloud. This interjection appears across many languages and cultures as a universal way to request silence.

What does "Be quiet!" mean?

We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.

quiet

adjective

•making little or no noise; silent

verb

•to become silent or stop making noise

Where did this clue appear?

This clue appeared as 1-down in the New York Times Mini on April 3, 2026, by Joel Fagliano. See all answers for this puzzle.

NYT Mini — Apr 3, 2026

Get help on the whole puzzle

What does Shh mean?

noun

•An utterance of shh.

verb

•To utter shh.

interjection

•Requesting silence.

Origin of the word Shh

•origin: onomatopoeia

•period: ancient universal human sound

This interjection mimics the natural sound humans make when trying to quiet someone and appears across many unrelated languages with similar spellings like 'chut' in French and 'psst' variations worldwide.

How to use Shh in a sentence

Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Shh.

•“Shh, the baby is finally sleeping!”

•“The librarian said 'Shh!' to the noisy students.”

•“She put her finger to her lips and whispered 'Shh' during the movie.”

What are other crossword clues for Shh?

“Librarian's warning” (3)

“[Don't wake the baby!]” (3)

“"Just listen …"” (3)

“"Quiet, you!"” (3)

“[Not another word!]” (3)

“Quiet sound?” (3)

“"Keep your voice down!"” (3)

“Sound made with a finger to the lips” (3)

Learn about related clues

All clues from the New York Times Mini, Apr 3, 2026 crossword

The New York Times Mini for April 3, 2026 was published by Joel Fagliano and has 10 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.

Across

1AJumped up ... or a season in the past tense? (6)7ABasketball player, informally (6)8A___ balloon (6)9ATumbled down ... or a season in the past tense? (4)

Down

1D"Be quiet!" (3)2DSound of disappearance (4)3DMemorization technique based on repetition (4)4D"C'mon, be ___" ("Help me out") (4)5DAstronaut Armstrong (4)6DDog's warning (3)

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Frequently asked questions about "Be quiet!"

What is the answer to "Be quiet!"?: The answer is Shh (3 letters).
Where did this clue appear?: This clue was last seen in the New York Times Mini on April 3, 2026.
How many letters does the answer to "Be quiet!" have?: The answer has 3 letters: Shh.

Author

Naitik Mehta

Co-founder

Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.