Halt einfach den Mund
/halt ˈʔaɪ̯nfax de(ː)n mʊnt/word by word
The English phrase "just shut up" is translated into German as Halt einfach den Mund.
This phrase is an aggressive or impatient command used to tell someone to stop talking immediately.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of halt (hold/stop), einfach (simply/just) and den Mund (the mouth).
Which one should you use?
You may encounter the slang version Halt die Klappe, which means "shut your trap" or "shut up". If you need to address someone formally using the pronoun "Sie", the phrase changes to Halten Sie einfach den Mund.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Halt einfach den Mund is informal and can be perceived as very rude or aggressive depending on the tone used. For formal settings, you should use Halten Sie einfach den Mund.
How do you pronounce it?
/halt ˈʔaɪ̯nfax de(ː)n mʊnt/
Did you know?
- German has several levels of 'shutting up' based on the body part mentioned. While Mund refers to the mouth, the slang Klappe is used for the 'trap' and Maul is used for the 'maw', the latter being primarily used for animals and considered extremely insulting to humans.
- The slang phrase Halt die Klappe literally means 'hold the flap'. It refers to the flap of a wooden chest or a cellar door, equating a person's mouth to a lid that needs closing.
- The word einfach comes from the components 'ein' and 'fach', which originally meant 'one-fold', similar to the English word 'onefold'.
Examples in context
- Halt einfach den Mund und hör zu!Just shut up and listen.This sentence is useful for practicing the command Halt einfach den Mund alongside an instruction to listen.Tatoeba #1726942 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1723932 by Spamster
- Halt einfach den Mund!Just shut your mouth!
- Klappe jetzt einfach mal zu!Just shut up now!
- Hoid dei Goschn!Shut your gob!
- Du nervst mich, halt einfach den Mund.You're annoying me, just shut up.
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are arguing about a movie.
- JuliaIch glaube, das Ende war totaler Quatsch.I think the ending was total nonsense.
- FelixDas stimmt gar nicht, es war perfekt!That's not true at all, it was perfect!
- JuliaHalt einfach den Mund, Felix!Just shut up, Felix!
- FelixWarum bist du so aggressiv?Why are you being so aggressive?
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Halt, einfach, den, Mund) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Halt, Mund, einfach, halt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
