ferme ta bouche
In French, ferme ta bouche is used to say shut your mouth.
Ferme ta bouche is an impolite way to tell someone to stop talking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb fermer (to close) and ta bouche (your mouth).
Which one should you use?
While ferme ta bouche is very aggressive and literal, tais-toi is the more common, standard way to say 'shut up' in an informal setting. Ferme ta gueule is a much more vulgar and aggressive version of ferme ta bouche, using the word for an animal's mouth/snout.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Ferme ta bouche is informal. Tais-toi is informal and ferme ta gueule is slang.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are addressing more than one person, you should use the plural form fermez la bouche.
Did you know?
- When telling a group to shut their mouths, fermez la bouche replaces the possessive ta (your) with the definite article la (the), which is a common pattern in French body-part phrases.
- The word ferme can also mean a 'farm', which is a completely different word from the verb 'to close' used in this phrase.
Examples in context
- Arrête de raconter des bêtises et ferme ta bouche!Stop talking nonsense and shut your mouth!
- Tais-toi! Je n'en peux plus de t'entendre parler tout le temps.Shut up! I can't stand listening to you all the time.
Example conversation
Two siblings are arguing loudly in the living room.
- ManonArrête de crier, Nathan !Stop shouting, Nathan!
- NathanNon, je ne me tairai pas !No, I will not be quiet!
- ManonFerme ta bouche immédiatement.Shut your mouth immediately.
- NathanTu es vraiment méchante, Manon.You are really mean, Manon.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bouche, ferme, ta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
