Bedeutung
Very blunt way to tell someone to stop talking.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Danes use 'Hold kæft' as a sign of intimacy. If a Dane uses it playfully with you, it means they feel comfortable enough to drop the 'politeness mask'. In the capital, 'Hold kæft' is used almost as a comma. It punctuates sentences to add a layer of 'street' authenticity or urgency. In more rural parts of Jutland, the phrase might be perceived as slightly more aggressive than in the city. 'Hold mund' is often preferred to maintain a calmer 'omgangstone'. Among teenagers, 'Hold kæft' is often shortened in text to 'HK' or simply used in memes to represent the 'shocked face' emoji.
The 'Nu' Factor
Adding 'nu' (Hold nu kæft) makes it sound much more annoyed. Use it sparingly!
The Smile Rule
If you use this with friends, always accompany it with a smile or a laugh to ensure they know it's 'venskabelig' (friendly).
Bedeutung
Very blunt way to tell someone to stop talking.
The 'Nu' Factor
Adding 'nu' (Hold nu kæft) makes it sound much more annoyed. Use it sparingly!
The Smile Rule
If you use this with friends, always accompany it with a smile or a laugh to ensure they know it's 'venskabelig' (friendly).
The 'Mand' Suffix
Adding 'mand' (man) at the end—'Hold kæft, mand'—is the classic way to sound like a native Copenhagener expressing shock.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the missing word to complete the common intensifier phrase.
Hold ______, hvor er det en flot udsigt!
'Hold kæft' is the only one used with 'hvor' to mean 'Wow'.
Which situation is appropriate for saying 'Hold kæft'?
You are...
It is a slang phrase for informal, close relationships.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
A: 'Jeg har lige vundet en million i lotto!' B: '_______! Det er løgn!'
In this context of shock/disbelief, 'Hold kæft' is the most natural slang reaction.
Match the phrase to the intent.
1. Hold nu kæft! | 2. Hold kæft, hvor er det koldt! | 3. Han holdt kæft.
1 is an imperative, 2 is an intensifier, 3 is a narrative statement.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
The 'Silence' Spectrum
Polite
- • Vær venlig at være stille
- • Ti stille
Neutral
- • Hold mund
- • Klap i
Rude/Slang
- • Hold kæft
- • Luk røven
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenHold ______, hvor er det en flot udsigt!
'Hold kæft' is the only one used with 'hvor' to mean 'Wow'.
You are...
It is a slang phrase for informal, close relationships.
A: 'Jeg har lige vundet en million i lotto!' B: '_______! Det er løgn!'
In this context of shock/disbelief, 'Hold kæft' is the most natural slang reaction.
1. Hold nu kæft! | 2. Hold kæft, hvor er det koldt! | 3. Han holdt kæft.
1 is an imperative, 2 is an intensifier, 3 is a narrative statement.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
14 FragenTechnically no, but it is 'grimt sprog' (ugly language). It's on par with 'shut up' in English—not a curse, but not polite.
Some parents do, but it's generally considered poor parenting in Denmark. 'Ti stille' or 'Hold mund' is preferred.
The most polite way is 'Vil du være venlig at være stille?' (Would you be kind enough to be quiet?).
It's an intensifier. It means 'My mouth is held shut by how amazing this is'.
Both are used. 'Hold kæft' is more common for surprise; 'Hold din kæft' is more personal and aggressive.
Absolutely not. It would be seen as a total lack of professional decorum.
It's a vulgar word for a mouth, specifically an animal's jaw or muzzle.
Yes. 'Luk røven' is much more offensive and aggressive.
You don't! The 'd' is silent in this word.
No, wait until you are close friends. It requires a high level of social trust.
Yes, especially in crime dramas and comedies to show 'tough' or 'real' characters.
The past tense is 'holdt kæft'. For example: 'Han holdt kæft hele vejen hjem'.
No, even if you are talking to a group, you still say 'Hold kæft!'.
Yes, and it's actually more literal there, though 'Ti stille' is also common.
Verwandte Redewendungen
ti stille
synonymbe quiet
hold mund
similarshut your mouth
luk røven
specialized formshut your ass
hold da op
similarwow / good heavens
klap i
synonymshut it / clap shut
