المعنى
Asking someone to be quiet
خلفية ثقافية
Norwegians value 'likhet' (equality). Telling someone to 'hold kjeft' can be a way of shutting down someone who is acting superior, though it is still considered rude. In the North, the language is traditionally more colorful and 'banning' (swearing) is more integrated into daily speech. 'Hold kjeft' might be used more frequently and sometimes less aggressively than in the South. Among Norwegian teens, 'hold kjeft' is often used as a filler or a reaction to something cool or surprising, losing much of its original aggressive bite. The Norwegian workplace is very flat, but 'hold kjeft' is still a 'career-limiting move'. Professionalism is maintained through 'innestemme' (indoor voice).
High Offense Potential
This is one of the first 'bad words' learners pick up. Use it sparingly, as it can sound much harsher coming from a non-native speaker who might not have the 'playful' intonation down yet.
The 'Shock' Factor
If a friend tells you something unbelievable, a whispered 'Hold kjeft...' with wide eyes is a great way to sound like a native speaker expressing shock.
المعنى
Asking someone to be quiet
High Offense Potential
This is one of the first 'bad words' learners pick up. Use it sparingly, as it can sound much harsher coming from a non-native speaker who might not have the 'playful' intonation down yet.
The 'Shock' Factor
If a friend tells you something unbelievable, a whispered 'Hold kjeft...' with wide eyes is a great way to sound like a native speaker expressing shock.
The 'Ti Stille' Alternative
If you are in a library or cinema, always start with 'Ti stille'. Only move to 'Hold kjeft' if they ignore you multiple times.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the missing verb to complete the command.
Bare ____ kjeft og hør på meg!
The idiom is 'å holde kjeft'.
Which phrase is most appropriate for a business meeting?
You need everyone to be quiet so you can start the presentation.
'Hold kjeft' is too rude for a professional setting.
Complete the dialogue between two angry siblings.
A: Du er så dum! B: Nei, du er dum! A: ____ ____!
In an argument between siblings, 'Hold kjeft' is the most realistic response.
What does 'kjeft' literally refer to?
The word 'kjeft' comes from Old Norse and refers to:
It refers to the jaw/mouth of a beast.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Ways to ask for silence
Polite
- • Vær stille
- • Ti stille
- • Kan du dempe deg?
Rude/Slang
- • Hold kjeft
- • Hold munn
- • Lukk brødskuffa
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينBare ____ kjeft og hør på meg!
The idiom is 'å holde kjeft'.
You need everyone to be quiet so you can start the presentation.
'Hold kjeft' is too rude for a professional setting.
A: Du er så dum! B: Nei, du er dum! A: ____ ____!
In an argument between siblings, 'Hold kjeft' is the most realistic response.
The word 'kjeft' comes from Old Norse and refers to:
It refers to the jaw/mouth of a beast.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةTechnically no, but it is considered 'stygt språk' (ugly language) and is socially on par with mild swearing.
Yes! Since 'kjeft' refers to an animal's mouth, it's actually quite literal when used with pets.
The most polite way is 'Kan du være så snill å være stille?' (Can you please be quiet?).
'Hold munn' is slightly softer because 'munn' is the human word for mouth, whereas 'kjeft' is for animals.
Yes, it's very common in texting between friends, often followed by emojis like 😂 or 🙄.
The definite form 'kjeften' adds a bit of specific emphasis, like 'shut THAT mouth of yours'.
Yes, if the tone is light and you are with close friends, it's a standard part of Norwegian banter.
Yes, but parents usually tell them not to, as it's considered rude.
It literally means 'close the bread drawer' and is a funny way to tell someone to shut up.
In the North, they might say 'Hold kjeften på dæ!', which is more emphatic.
عبارات ذات صلة
ti stille
synonymbe quiet
hold munn
similarhold mouth
lukk brødskuffa
specialized formclose the bread drawer
ikke en kjeft
builds onnot a soul
kjeftes
relatedto bicker
