Breakdown of Ich bin der Bibliothekar und Sie sind hier gefälligst leise!
ich
I
sein
to be
und
and
hier
here
Questions & Answers about Ich bin der Bibliothekar und Sie sind hier gefälligst leise!
How does the word gefälligst change the tone of this sentence?
gefälligst is an aggressive modal particle. While its root word gefällig means 'obliging' or 'pleasing', adding it here creates a strong, annoyed demand. It turns a simple statement like 'you are quiet' into a forceful command like 'you will damn well be quiet'.
Why is the second half formatted as a regular statement (Sie sind...) instead of an imperative command (Seien Sie...)?
In German, using a regular declarative sentence combined with a harsh particle like gefälligst is a common way to give a very strict order. It leaves no room for argument, treating the command as a non-negotiable fact: 'you are going to be quiet.'
Could I use gefälligst with a regular imperative like Seien Sie hier gefälligst leise!?
Yes, absolutely. You will often hear it with the imperative mood. However, using the standard statement format (Sie sind...) as shown in this sentence often sounds even more rigid and authoritative, which fits the angry librarian perfectly.
Is gefälligst a word I should use in everyday polite conversation to mean 'please'?
Definitely not! Despite looking like a polite word, it is highly confrontational and severely annoyed. If you use it with a stranger, they will think you are scolding them. For a normal 'please', always stick to bitte.