Shushes

/ˈʃʊʃɪz/ verb

Definition

Makes a 'shh' sound to tell someone to be quiet, or the sound itself.

Etymology

Onomatopoeia from the 'shh' sound itself, with the verb form adding '-es' for third person. The word is imitative, reproducing the actual sound used to quiet people.

Kelly Says

Onomatopoeia like 'shush' are fascinating because they're among the few words that literally sound like their meaning—languages across the world have similar sounds for 'be quiet,' suggesting it's a universal human strategy.

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