פֿאַרמאַך דאָס מויל
farmakh dos moyl
The English phrase "shut your mouth" is translated into Yiddish as פֿאַרמאַך דאָס מויל (farmakh dos moyl).
פֿאַרמאַך דאָס מויל is a direct command used to tell someone to stop talking. It is used in a rude or aggressive way, matching the tone of the English expression.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb פֿאַרמאַך, meaning "close" or "shut" and דאָס מויל, meaning "the mouth".
Which one should you use?
While the English phrase uses the possessive "your", the Yiddish version uses the definite article דאָס (the) before מויל (mouth). Another common way to express this is האלט דיין מויל, which translates to "hold your mouth".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
פֿאַרמאַך דאָס מויל is a blunt command, while the alternative האלט דיין מויל is a common, slightly more colloquial way to tell someone to shut up.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the standard Yiddish imperative, you use the definite article דאָס before מויל rather than a possessive pronoun.
How do you pronounce it?
farmakh dos moyl
Did you know?
- In some Jewish dialects, telling someone to פֿאַרמאַך דאָס מויל can be used ironically among close friends as a form of teasing rather than a genuine insult.
- In many Yiddish-speaking households, a sharper version of this might involve the word זיגלן, which means 'to seal' or 'to cork'.
- The word מויל shares a common ancestor with the English word 'mouth', as both descend from the same Proto-Germanic root.
Examples in context
- פֿאַרמאַך דאָס מויל, דו שרעקליכע מענטש!farmakh dos muyl, du shreklikhe mentsh!Shut your mouth, you terrible person!
- פֿאַרמאַך דאָס מויל און גיי וועק!farmakh dos muyl un gey vek!Shut your mouth and go away!
- פֿאַרמאַך דאָס מויל, איך וויל מער נישט הערן.farmakh dos muyl, ikh vil mer nisht hern.Shut your mouth, I don't want to hear more.
Example conversation
Two people are having a heated argument in a kitchen.
- יצחק Yitzchakשרה, דו רעדסט צו פֿיל!Sarah, du redt tsu fil!Sarah, you are talking too much!
- שרה Saraיצחק, איך האב רעכט צו רעדן.Yitzhok, ikh hob rekht tsu redn.Yitzhak, I have a right to speak.
- יצחק Yitzchakפֿאַרמאַך דאָס מויל!Farmakh dos moyl!Shut your mouth!
- שרה Saraדו ביסט זייער גרוב.Du bist zayer grub.You are very rude.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries מויל, CC BY-SA 4.0.
