What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb закрой (close) and the noun рот (mouth).
Which one should you use?
While закрой рот literally targets the physical mouth, the word замолчи is a more common way to command someone to stop making noise or speaking.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
закрой рот is an informal and highly impolite expression. If you need to address more than one person or wish to use a formal (though still rude) tone, you should use закройте рот.
How does it change in a sentence?
The imperative form закрой is singular and informal. To address multiple people or to use a more formal tone, use the form закройте рот.
How do you pronounce it?
zakroy rot
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use заткнись thinking it is a direct translation of "shut your mouth". заткнись is actually a much more vulgar and aggressive way to say "shut up".
Did you know?
- Using закройте рот (the formal version) can actually feel more menacing than the informal закрой рот because it combines extreme rudeness with an icy, distant formality.
- While закрой рот is rude, Russians may use the phrase закрой свой рот (close your mouth) to add an extra layer of aggression or personal disdain by adding the possessive pronoun.
- Russian has multiple words for 'mouth', and while рот is used for commands like закрой рот, the word уста is a poetic, archaic term for the mouth found in old literature and hymns.
Examples in context
- Закрой рот и сядь.Shut your mouth and sit down.This sentence is useful for commanding someone to shut their mouth and sit down.Tatoeba #2990559 by odexed, translation #10864519 by ddnktr
- Закрой рот и иди в свою комнату!Shut your mouth and go to your room!This sentence is useful for commanding someone to shut their mouth and go to their room.Tatoeba #2900920 by odexed, translation #9966188 by DJ_Saidez
- Закрой рот.Shut your mouth.This sentence is useful for a simple command to shut one's mouth.Tatoeba #666831 by shanghainese, translation #240561 by CK
- Закройте рот и прислушайтесь к тому, что я говорю.Shut your mouth and listen to what I'm saying.
- Заткнись и давай сделаем свою работу.Shut up and let's do our work.
- Ну замолчи уже, я не могу сосредоточиться.Just be quiet already, I can't concentrate.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A heated argument between two siblings in a hallway.
- Мария MariaТы постоянно меня перебиваешь!Ty postoyanno menya perebivayesh'!You are constantly interrupting me!
- Дмитрий DmitryЗакрой рот, ты ничего не понимаешь.Zakroy rot, ty nichego ne ponimayesh'.Shut your mouth, you don't understand anything.
- Мария MariaКак ты можешь так со мной говорить?Kak ty mozhesh' tak so mnoy govorit'?How can you talk to me like that?
- Дмитрий DmitryПросто замолчи.Prosto zamolchi.Just be quiet.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
