þegi þú
The phrase "shut up" in Old Norse is þegi þú.
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
þegi þú is composed of the verb þegi (be silent/keep quiet) and the pronoun þú (thou/you).
Which one should you use?
If you are telling a group of people to shut up, you should use the plural form þegið þér.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a group of people, the plural imperative þegið is used with the pronoun þér.
Did you know?
- The phrase þegi þú uses a verb that focuses on the state of being silent, whereas the English 'shut up' uses a physical metaphor of closing a door or lid.
- The command þegi is an imperative, and in Old Norse, adding the pronoun þú makes the order more emphatic or aggressive than using the verb alone.
- In Old Norse poetry, being 'silent' was often a sign of wisdom or controlled emotion, rather than just a lack of noise.
Examples in context
- Þegi þú!Shut up!
- Þegi þú, því ek vil hvíld.Shut up, because I want rest.
- Þegi þú nú, Sigrid.Shut up now, Sigrid.
Example conversation
A quiet longhouse where Olaf is trying to sleep.
- OlafSigrid, þegi þú!Sigrid, shut up!
- SigridHvat segir þú, Olaf?What are you saying, Olaf?
- OlafEk vil sofa í kyrrð.I want to sleep in silence.
- SigridSvá skal vera.So shall it be.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
