halt die Klappe, Hund
/halt diː ˈklapə hʊnt/word by word
The English phrase "shut up, dog" is translated into German as halt die Klappe, Hund.
This phrase is used as an aggressive command to tell a dog to stop barking or making noise.
Which one should you use?
While halt die Klappe, Hund is an aggressive way to say "shut up, dog!", the phrase Sei still, Hund! is used to say "Be quiet, dog!"
How do you pronounce it?
/halt diː ˈklapə hʊnt/
Did you know?
- While Hund is the standard word for 'dog', calling a person a Hund in German can be a severe insult regarding their character.
- The term Klappe literally refers to a flap, lid, or valve, implying that your mouth is a physical object that should stay closed.
- The word Hund shares the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root as the English word 'hound'.
Example conversation
A dog is barking loudly while Sarah is trying to read.
- SarahHalt die Klappe, Hund!Shut up, dog!
- JulianSei nicht so streng mit ihm.Don't be so hard on him.
- SarahIch kann mich nicht konzentrieren.I cannot concentrate.
- JulianIch nehme ihn kurz raus.I'll take him outside for a moment.
