cau dy geg
The Welsh phrase for "shut up" is cau dy geg.
cau dy geg is used to tell someone to stop talking. Depending on the tone used, it can be perceived as rude or aggressive.
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "close your mouth". The word dy is the singular informal possessive pronoun for "your".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cau dy geg is an informal expression. For a more polite or formal way to ask someone to be quiet, you can use Hoffwn i i chi fod yn dawel, which translates to "I would like you to be quiet".
Is it said differently in some regions?
Cau dy geg is a regional variation found in South Wales, particularly in the Glamorgan area.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing more than one person, the phrase changes to cau eich gegiau to mean "shut your mouths".
Did you know?
- Because cau dy geg is a regionalism heavily linked to the Glamorgan area, using it in North Wales might make you sound like you are playing a character from a southern soap opera.
- The word cau in this phrase shares a deep ancestral root with the English word 'catch', tracing back to the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to grasp'.
- While cau dy geg is used to stop someone from talking, the verb cau is also the primary word used for closing a door or a window.
Example sentences for Welsh are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Rhys and Elowen are arguing about a movie.
- RhysCau dy geg, Elowen!Shut up, Elowen!
- ElowenPam wyt ti'n dweud hynny?Why are you saying that?
- RhysRydw i eisiau clywed y ffilm.I want to hear the movie.
- ElowenIawn, byddaf yn dawel.Fine, I will be quiet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cau, dy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
