How to Say “Shut Up” in Hmong

By Joanne Violet • Updated October 1, 2026

kawg lus

The Hmong phrase for "shut up" is kawg lus.

The phrase is used to tell someone to stop talking.

Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)

Did you know?

In Hmong culture, telling someone to kawg lus can be much more jarring than the English 'shut up' because direct verbal confrontation is often viewed as a significant loss of face.
The word lus in kawg lus refers to 'speech' or 'language' and shares an ancient connection with the Chinese word for 'language', 語.
If you are speaking to an elder, saying anything similar to kawg lus would be considered extremely disrespectful and culturally taboo.

Example conversation

Yee and Yia are arguing about a movie.

Yee

Koj tsis yog, kuv yog!
You are not right, I am!
Yia

Kawg lus, Yee!
Shut up, Yee!
Yee

Vim li cas koj thiaj hais li ntawd?
Why did you say that?
Yia

Kuv tsis xav mloog koj ntxiv.
I don't want to listen to you anymore.

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries lus, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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About The Author

Joanne Violet

Nyob zoo, it's me, Joanne. I am a lover of the vibrant Hmong culture and language, a passion which I share through my extensive guides on various Hmong phrases. I am also passionate about teaching and learning languages, traveling, and journaling. I enjoy cooking, specifically experimenting with traditional Hmong recipes. Evoking smiles by saying "Kuv hlub koj" keeps language learning fun and exhilarating. Let's learn together, making our cultural journey exciting and valuable.

Joanne VioletHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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