Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| hou je kop | |
| kop dicht | /kɔp dɪxt/ (word by word) |
| hou je smoel | |
| hou je bek |
These phrases are used to tell someone to stop talking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase hou je kop literally translates to "hold your head". The phrase hou je bek literally translates to "hold your beak" or "hold your maw", referring to an animal's mouth. The phrase hou je smoel literally translates to "hold your snout" or "hold your mug".
Which one should you use?
kop dicht is a very blunt, imperative way to tell someone to be quiet, often used in a commanding tone. hou je smoel is a rude, slangy way to tell someone to shut up, often used in arguments. 'Hou je bek' is significantly more aggressive and insulting than 'hou je kop'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
kop dicht is colloquial and commanding, hou je smoel is slang and rude and hou je bek is very rude/aggressive.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase hou je kop uses the imperative form of the verb houden (to hold/keep).
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Och, hou je kop!Oh, shut up!This example shows how to use hou je kop to express frustration.Tatoeba #12495437 by Tom9358, translation #2182705 by Hybrid
- Kop dicht en graaf!Shut up and dig!This sentence demonstrates the blunt, commanding use of kop dicht.Tatoeba #6131570 by Mandalay, translation #5667972 by Hybrid
- Hou je bek, idioot!Shut up, you idiot!This example illustrates the aggressive and insulting nature of hou je bek.Tatoeba #8591556 by Micsmithel, translation #1326043 by Eldad
- Hou je bek, ik kan me niet concentreren.Shut your mouth, I can't concentrate.
- Bek dicht, we willen ook nog wat zeggen.Shut your mouth, we want to say something too.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Lisa are arguing about a movie.
- DaanIk vond de film echt geweldig!I thought the movie was really great!
- LisaHou je kop, Daan, het was verschrikkelijk.Shut up, Daan, it was terrible.
- DaanWaarom doe je zo onredelijk?Why are you being so unreasonable?
- LisaOmdat ik er nu echt geen zin meer in heb.Because I'm really done with it now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations and entries hou je smoel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (kop, dicht) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bek, dicht, hou, kop, smoel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
