Ways to say it
| Croatian |
|---|
| začepi! |
| šuti! |
| začepi gubicu! |
| začepi gubec! |
| zaveži! |
| muči! |
These phrases are used to command someone to stop talking. While some forms are blunt, others are specifically used as harsh commands to stop making noise or speaking.
What does it mean word for word?
The word začepi! literally means "plug it!" or "cork it!", as if you were plugging a hole.
Which one should you use?
The forms vary in intensity. šuti! is a less aggressive way to say shut up, functioning more like "be quiet!" In contrast, začepi! is more forceful. muči! is used as a blunt and often harsh command to stop someone from making noise or talking.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Most of these expressions are informal. Ušuti! is an informal way to say "Shut up!", and Prekini s pričom! is an informal way to say "Stop talking!" For a highly colloquial and rude slang option, you can use začepi gubicu!, which is similar to the English "shut your trap!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms provided are in the imperative mood, which is used for giving direct commands.
Did you know?
- The verb muči! is related to the word for 'torment' or 'torture' in other Slavic languages. Using it to tell someone to shut up implies that their talking is a form of torture to the listener.
- Using the word gubica in the phrase začepi gubicu! refers to a 'little snout' or 'little snout-like thing', making the command feel much more mocking and dehumanizing than a standard 'shut up'.
- In very heated arguments, Croatians may use šuti! as a question by raising the pitch at the end. This doesn't ask for permission, but rather expresses utter disbelief that the other person is still talking.
Example sentences for Croatian are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Mateo and Ana are having a heated argument.
- MateoZašto uvijek moraš imati pravo?Why do you always have to be right?
- AnaZato što jesam!Because I am!
- MateoZačepi! Ne želim više slušati.Shut up! I don't want to listen anymore.
- AnaSamo si ljut jer gubiš.You're just angry because you're losing.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
