cau dy geg
The Welsh phrase for "shut your mouth" is cau dy geg.
cau dy geg is a command used to tell someone to stop talking. While it serves the same purpose as the informal phrase Paid â siarad (stop talking), it is a more direct way to demand silence.
Which one should you use?
While cau dy geg is a specific command to shut one's mouth, Taw dy geg is another informal way to express the same sentiment of telling someone to shut their mouth.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cau dy geg is highly informal. Depending on your tone of voice, it can be perceived as quite rude or even aggressive.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the singular possessive pronoun dy (your), which indicates you are addressing a single person in an informal or familiar context.
Did you know?
- The verb cau shares an ancient root with the English word 'catch', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European concept of 'grasping' or 'holding'.
- In Welsh, the word for mouth can change depending on context. While geg is used in this rude command, other words for mouth are used in more polite or medical settings.
- The word geg (mouth) is part of a linguistic family that includes the Cornish and Breton languages, making it part of a broader Celtic network.
Examples in context
- Cau dy geg!Shut your mouth!
Example conversation
Rhys and Sian are arguing during a game.
- RhysRydw i'n cyngor i ti.I am advising you.
- SianCau dy geg, Rhys!Shut your mouth, Rhys!
- RhysPam rwyt ti'n mor ddig?Why are you so angry?
- SianDim ond stopio'n siarad.Just stop talking.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cau, dy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
