chiudi la bocca
The English phrase 'shut your mouth' is translated into Italian as chiudi la bocca.
chiudi la bocca is an impolite command used to tell someone to stop talking immediately. While it is a direct way to express this, it is often perceived as more visceral or aggressive than the standard stai zitto.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb chiudi (close) and the noun phrase la bocca (the mouth).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For an informal way to say 'shut up', you might use Taci! or Chiudi il becco. For a colloquial way to say 'keep quiet', you can use Stai zitto/a! While stai zitto is a common, idiomatic way to tell someone to shut up informally or aggressively, chiudi la bocca carries a more aggressive tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address a group of people, use the plural imperative form chiudete la bocca instead of chiudi.
Did you know?
- The command Taci! is much shorter and derives from the verb tacere, which is the root of the English word 'tacit'.
- The word bocca descends from the Latin bucca, which originally referred to a swollen cheek rather than the mouth opening itself.
- The aggressive nature of chiudi la bocca is often reinforced by a hand gesture, such as a sharp movement of the hand away from the face.
Examples in context
- Ehi, tu, chiudi la bocca!Hey you, shut your mouth!This example shows how to use chiudi la bocca in an exclamation.Tatoeba #4868642 by Guybrush88, translation #2764324 by verdulo
- Chiudi la bocca!Shut your mouth!This example shows a direct command using chiudi la bocca.Tatoeba #1158487 by Guybrush88, translation #8666985 by ajje
- Chiudi la bocca.Shut your mouth.This example shows a declarative version of chiudi la bocca.Tatoeba #1001280 by riccioberto, translation #240561 by CK
Example conversation
Lorenzo and Giulia are having a heated argument in a cafe.
- LorenzoNon voglio più sentire le tue scuse.I don't want to hear your excuses anymore.
- GiuliaMa io stavo solo cercando di…But I was only trying to…
- LorenzoChiudi la bocca, Giulia!Shut your mouth, Giulia!
- GiuliaSei davvero un uomo molto maleducato.You are truly a very rude man.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bocca, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
