dún do bhéal
The Irish phrase for "shut up" is dún do bhéal. Wiktionary also lists éist do bhéal and dún do chlab.
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
Ways to say it
| Irish |
|---|
| dún do bhéal |
| éist do bhéal |
| dún do chlab |
The phrase is used as an interjection to tell someone to stop talking.
What does it mean word for word?
dún do bhéal literally means "close your mouth".
Which one should you use?
While dún do bhéal means to close your mouth, the form dún do chlab is a more aggressive, colloquial way to say "shut your trap".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
dún do bhéal is an informal way to tell someone to shut up. dún do chlab is more colloquial and potentially more aggressive. The phrase éist leat féin can be used to suggest someone should reconsider their words or chatter.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In County Donegal, the phrase Stad ort is used to mean "Stop it" or "Stop talking".
How does it change in a sentence?
dún do bhéal uses the imperative form of the verb dún (to close) and the possessive adjective do (your).
Did you know?
- The verb dún in the phrase dún do bhéal shares the same root as the word for 'stronghold' or 'fort' in Irish. The idea of 'closing' is conceptually linked to the enclosure of a fortification.
- In County Donegal, you might hear the phrase Stad ort to tell someone to stop talking, rather than using a phrase involving 'closing' a mouth.
Examples in context
- Dún do bhéal, le do thoilShut your mouth, please.
- Dún do bhéal!Shut up!
- Dún do bhéal agus éist.Shut up and listen.
- Dún do bhéal anois.Shut up now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries do, dún, éist, CC BY-SA 4.0.
