Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| halt den Mund | /halt de(ː)n mʊnt/ (word by word) | |
| halt dein Maul | /halt daɪ̯n maʊ̯l/ (word by word) | |
| halt die Fresse | ||
| halt den Rand | /halt de(ː)n ʁant/ (word by word) | |
| halt die Klappe | /halt diː ˈklapə/ (word by word) | singular |
These phrases are used to command someone to stop talking. While the command halt den Mund is a standard, rude way to tell someone to be quiet, the related verb den Mund halten is used to describe the act of remaining silent or keeping quiet.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase halt den Mund literally means "hold the mouth".
Which one should you use?
The various forms differ significantly in their level of aggression. halt den Mund is a standard, rude command. halt die Klappe is a slightly more colloquial or slangy version. In contrast, halt dein Maul is significantly more aggressive and vulgar because Maul refers to an animal's mouth. The most extreme and insulting way to say this is halt die Fresse, which is considered very vulgar. You may also see the informal contraction Halt's Maul! used to mean "Shut up!"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Most of these forms are impolite. halt den Mund is a standard rude command, while halt die Klappe is a colloquialism that is less aggressive than the animal-based versions but still impolite. The versions using Maul or Fresse are highly aggressive and vulgar.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The forms provided are in the imperative singular. To address a group of people, you would use Haltet den Mund.
How do you pronounce it?
/halt de(ː)n mʊnt/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Halt den Rand, Idiot!Shut up, you idiot!This sentence uses halt den Rand to show how it can be used in an insult.Tatoeba #1405478 by Manfredo, translation #1326043 by Eldad
- Halt den Mund und hör zu!Shut up and listen!This sentence uses halt den Mund to command someone to be quiet while listening.Tatoeba #1691049 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #323684 by CK
- Halt den Mund, du Miststück!Shut up, bitch!This sentence uses halt den Mund as a harsh insult.Tatoeba #11644414 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2722185 by Hybrid
- Kannst du bitte mal die Klappe halten?Can you please shut your trap for a moment?
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are arguing in a crowded cafe.
- FelixDu nervst mich wirklich!You are really annoying me!
- HannahHalt den Mund, Felix!Shut up, Felix!
- FelixWarum bin ich immer schuld?Why is it always my fault?
- HannahWeil du ständig nur redest.Because you never stop talking.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Halt, den, Mund, dein, Maul, Rand, die, Klappe) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Fresse, Maul, Mund, dein, die, halt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
