Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| halt den Mund | /halt de(ː)n mʊnt/ (word by word) | |
| halt dein Maul | /halt daɪ̯n maʊ̯l/ (word by word) | |
| halt die Fresse | ||
| halt den Rand | /halt de(ː)n ʁant/ (word by word) | |
| halt die Klappe | /halt diː ˈklapə/ (word by word) | singular |
All these phrases are used to command someone to stop talking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase halt den Mund literally means "hold the mouth".
Which one should you use?
halt den Mund is a standard, though still rude, way to tell someone to be quiet. halt die Klappe is a colloquial way to say 'shut up' that is slightly less aggressive than using Maul or Fresse, but still impolite. halt dein Maul is significantly more aggressive and vulgar than halt den Mund because Maul refers to an animal's mouth. halt die Fresse is highly offensive and used in heated confrontations or fights. Finally, halt den Rand is another way to express this command.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
While extremely rude due to the command itself, the formal imperative Halten Sie den Mund follows standard formal grammar.
How do you pronounce it?
/halt de(ː)n mʊnt/
Did you know?
- The word Fresse in the highly offensive phrase halt die Fresse is actually derived from the verb fressen, which is used for animals eating rather than humans.
- The phrase halt den Rand uses Rand, which usually means 'edge' or 'border', implying one should shut the 'edge' of their mouth.
- The phrase halt die Klappe uses the word Klappe, which means 'flap' or 'lid'. It refers to the mouth as if it were a lid that needs to be closed.
Examples in context
- Halt den Rand, Idiot!Shut up, you idiot!This sentence shows how to use halt den Rand.Tatoeba #1405478 by Manfredo, translation #1326043 by Eldad
- Halt den Mund und hör zu!Shut up and listen!This sentence demonstrates the use of halt den Mund.Tatoeba #1691049 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #323684 by CK
- Halt den Mund, du Miststück!Shut up, bitch!This sentence shows the use of halt den Mund.Tatoeba #11644414 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2722185 by Hybrid
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Julia are arguing in a quiet library.
- MaximilianDu redest viel zu viel!You talk way too much!
- JuliaWas ist denn dein Problem?What is your problem?
- MaximilianHalt den Mund, Julia!Shut up, Julia!
- JuliaDas war aber unfreundlich.That was quite unfriendly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (Halt, den, Mund, dein, Maul, Rand, die, Klappe) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Fresse, Maul, Mund, dein, die, halt, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
