Learn English – Speak and volumes of speaking

word-request

When you are speaking to someone and this person is speaking at a low volume and you almost can't hear it, usually you would ask something like this: Could you please speak louder?.

What if the situation is the opposite? The person is speaking too loud and you want it to lower the volume? I can only imagine asking like this: Could you please speak in a lower volume?. Is there any shorter way to say this?

Thanks a lot.

Best Answer

Amadan's answer is the most neutral and polite way to ask, but there are plenty of other things you could say:

  • Lower your voice, please. --slightly rude, even with the "please"
  • Tone it down! --somewhat rude
  • Use your "inside voice". --ok to use on small children, very rudely condescending otherwise
  • Do you want the world to know? --very rude and sarcastic
  • Speak up, the people in [neighboring city] couldn't hear you. --very rude and sarcastic
  • Not so loud! --somewhat rude
  • Gahhh! My eardrums! --extremely rude
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