fakamāpuni ho ngutu
The English phrase "shut up" is translated into Tongan as fakamāpuni ho ngutu.
The phrase fakamāpuni ho ngutu is used to command someone to stop talking.
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, fakamāpuni ho ngutu means "close your mouth". The word fakamāpuni means to close or shut, ho is a possessive particle and ngutu means mouth.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the possessive particle ho (your), which makes the command direct and personal.
Did you know?
- While the phrase literally means 'close your mouth', using it in a social setting can be seen as a profound insult to a person's dignity. In Tongan culture, public commands directed at someone's physical features can carry much more weight than a simple request for silence.
- The word ngutu can refer to various openings, and in certain contexts, it can be used to describe parts of an object or a vessel. This reflects the Tongan way of categorizing physical features based on their structural function.
- In Tongan, there are different possessive particles for 'your' depending on whether the object is considered 'A' or 'O' class, and ho is used here because the mouth is an intimate part of the body.
Example conversation
Tevita and Mele are arguing in the living room.
- TevitaFakamāpuni ho ngutu, Mele!Shut up, Mele!
- MeleKo e hā e Fakatatau ko iá?What is that attitude?
- TevitaʻOku ʻikai ke ou lava ʻo fanongo.I cannot listen anymore.
- MeleʻOku ke fakamālohiʻi au.You are provoking me.
