Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| sus | /ˈsus/ |
| kapa çeneni | /kapa t͡ʃeneni/ (from spelling rules) |
| kes sesini | /ces sesini/ (from spelling rules) |
These phrases are used as imperatives to tell someone to stop talking. Depending on the form chosen, the tone can range from a blunt command to an aggressive insult.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kapa çeneni literally means "shut your jaw", while kes sesini literally means "cut your voice".
Which one should you use?
The form sus can mean "be quiet", but in an imperative context, it is a blunt way to say "shut up". The phrase kapa çeneni is more aggressive and insulting than the simple sus.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The forms sus and sus lan! are informal. The phrase kes sesini is a very common, rude and informal way to tell someone to shut up. If you need to be formal, use the phrase Sessiz olmanızı rica ediyorum, which means "I kindly request you to be quiet."
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Sus is the singular imperative form of the verb susmak (to be silent). To tell a group of people to shut up, use the plural form susun.
How do you pronounce it?
Sus is pronounced with an [s] sound as in "send" and a [oo] sound as in "cool".
Did you know?
- In many Turkish social contexts, using the command sus toward an elder or a superior is considered a major social transgression, far more offensive than it might be in English.
- The phrase kes sesini is often accompanied by a sharp hand gesture, similar to a cutting motion across the throat, to emphasize the command.
- The verb susmak is used in the Turkish idiom susmak en iyi cevaptır, which means 'silence is the best answer'.
Examples in context
- Kapa çeneni ve kaz!Shut up and dig!This sentence uses kapa çeneni to give a command to dig.Tatoeba #5669275 by duran, translation #5667972 by Hybrid
- Kapa çeneni ve sür.Shut up and drive.This sentence uses kapa çeneni to give a command to drive.Tatoeba #5761168 by duran, translation #5757828 by CM
- Kapa çeneni ve uyu.Shut up and go to sleep.This sentence uses kapa çeneni to give a command to sleep.Tatoeba #6980162 by duran, translation #6472648 by OsoHombre
- 92 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zeynep and Emre are arguing about a movie.
- ZeynepSus artık, çok konuştun!Shut up already, you talked too much!
- EmreNeden bana kızıyorsun Zeynep?Why are you getting angry at me, Zeynep?
- ZeynepSadece sus ve filmi izle.Just shut up and watch the movie.
- EmreTamam, sustum.Okay, I'm quiet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations and entries sus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
