hold kæft
[ˈhʌlˀ ˈkɛfd]word by word
The English phrase "shut up" is translated into Danish as hold kæft.
hold kæft is used to tell someone to stop talking. It is an informal and blunt expression that can be perceived as rude or aggressive depending on the tone of voice used.
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb holde (to hold) and the noun kæft (mouth or maw), literally meaning "hold [your] maw".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
hold kæft is an informal and slightly impolite way to say "shut up". If you wish to be more formal or polite, you can use Vær venlig at tie stille, which means "please be kind enough to be silent" or Vil du være sød at holde mund, which means "would you be so kind as to keep silent".
Related words
Did you know?
- While hold kæft is an aggressive command to stop talking, Danes also use it as an expression of disbelief, similar to 'no way!' or 'shut up!' in English when hearing shocking news.
- The word kæft refers to a 'maw' or 'snout', a term usually reserved for animals, which is why telling a person to 'hold kæft' feels particularly dehumanizing or rude.
- The verb holde in this phrase comes from the Old Norse 'hald', which meant 'power' or 'grip', implying a physical grasping of the speech or the mouth.
Examples in context
- Hold kæft og sæt dig!Shut up and sit down.This sentence demonstrates how to use hold kæft to command someone to sit down.Tatoeba #3743578 by danepo, translation #2499064 by Hybrid
- Hold kæft og lade mig tænke.Shut up and let me think.This sentence shows how to use hold kæft when you want someone to stop talking so you can think.Tatoeba #6061733 by sifhg, translation #1096368 by CK
- Hold kæft! Du distraherer mig.Shut up, you're distracting me.This sentence uses hold kæft to express that someone is being a distraction.Tatoeba #5236408 by danepo, translation #4463185 by Hybrid
- 1 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Sofie are arguing during a game.
- LucasDu snyder altid!You always cheat!
- SofieHold kæft, Lucas!Shut up, Lucas!
- LucasJeg mener det!I mean it!
- SofieNu stopper viNow we stop.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations and entries hold kæft, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (hold, kæft) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hold, kæft, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
