வாயை மூடு
vāyai mūṭu
The English phrase "shut up" is translated into Tamil as வாயை மூடு (vāyai mūṭu).
வாயை மூடு is used to tell someone to stop talking. An informal way to ask someone to stop talking is to say பேசாதே.
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally means "close the mouth". வாயை (vāyai) is the accusative form of வாய் (vāi), meaning "mouth" and மூடு (mūṭu) means "to close" or "to shut".
Which one should you use?
While வாயை மூடு focuses on the action of closing the mouth, the related form வாயை பொத்து is often used to mean "shut up" in the sense of "keep quiet" or "stop making noise".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
வாயை மூடு is highly informal and can be perceived as rude or aggressive depending on the tone.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
vāyai mūṭu
Did you know?
- The variant வாயை பொத்து (vāyai poṭtu) uses the word பொத்து (poṭṭu), which can also mean 'to strike' or 'to hit', giving the phrase a more violent, percussive undertone than simply 'closing' something.
- In Tamil culture, telling an elder வாயை மூடு is considered significantly more offensive than the English 'shut up' and is seen as a severe breach of social hierarchy.
- The verb மூடு (mūṭu) is a linguistic bridge across South India, appearing in nearly identical forms in Malayalam and Telugu, showing how deeply these languages are intertwined.
Examples in context
- வாயை மூடு.vāyai mūṭu.Shut up.
Example conversation
Karthik and Divya are arguing during a movie.
- திவ்யா Divyaஇந்த படம் எனக்கு பிடிக்கவில்லை.Intha padam enakku pidikkavillai.I don't like this movie.
- கார்த்திக் Karthikதிரையரங்கில் வாயை மூடு, திவ்யா.Thiraiyarangil vaayai moodu, Divya.Shut up in the theater, Divya.
- திவ்யா Divyaஏன் அப்படி சொல்கிறாய்?En appadi solgirai?Why are you saying that?
- கார்த்திக் Karthikமற்றவர்களுக்கு தொந்தரவு ஏற்படும்.Matravargalukku thontharavu erpadum.It will disturb others.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries மூடு, CC BY-SA 4.0.
