Bedeutung
Informal way to tell someone to stop talking.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Danes value 'hygge' but also 'ærlighed' (honesty). 'Hold kæft' can be a sign of intimacy; if a Dane feels comfortable enough to tell you to shut up jokingly, you are likely in their inner circle. In Copenhagen, 'Hold kæft' is used almost as a comma. It punctuates sentences and adds flavor to stories, often losing its literal meaning entirely. In more traditional parts of Jutland, strong language like 'kæft' might be viewed more conservatively. 'Hold mund' or 'Ti stille' is often preferred in mixed company. Danish cinema is famous for its 'dogme' style and gritty realism. 'Hold kæft' is a staple in these films to portray authentic, raw human interaction.
Context is King
Never use this with people you don't know. It can lead to real confrontations.
The 'Hvor' Pattern
Master the 'Hold kæft, hvor [adjective]' pattern to sound like a native when you are impressed.
Bedeutung
Informal way to tell someone to stop talking.
Context is King
Never use this with people you don't know. It can lead to real confrontations.
The 'Hvor' Pattern
Master the 'Hold kæft, hvor [adjective]' pattern to sound like a native when you are impressed.
Irony
Danes use irony a lot. Sometimes 'Hold kæft' means 'I'm listening, tell me more!'
Teste dich selbst
Which sentence uses 'Hold kæft' as an exclamation of surprise?
A: Hold kæft, jeg sover! B: Hold kæft, hvor er du høj! C: Han bad mig holde kæft.
'Hold kæft, hvor...' is a classic pattern for expressing surprise at a quality (height, in this case).
Fill in the missing verb form.
I går ______ han kæft under hele filmen.
The sentence starts with 'I går' (Yesterday), so we need the past tense 'holdt'.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate person to say it to.
Phrase: 'Hold kæft, mand!'
This is slang and should only be used with people you are close to.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Jeg har lige vundet 10.000 kroner! B: ______! Det er jo helt vildt!
In this context, 'Hold kæft' expresses disbelief and excitement.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Ways to ask for silence in Danish
Polite
- • Vær stille
- • Ro, tak
Neutral
- • Hold mund
- • Ti stille
Rude/Slang
- • Hold kæft
- • Luk røven
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenA: Hold kæft, jeg sover! B: Hold kæft, hvor er du høj! C: Han bad mig holde kæft.
'Hold kæft, hvor...' is a classic pattern for expressing surprise at a quality (height, in this case).
I går ______ han kæft under hele filmen.
The sentence starts with 'I går' (Yesterday), so we need the past tense 'holdt'.
Phrase: 'Hold kæft, mand!'
This is slang and should only be used with people you are close to.
A: Jeg har lige vundet 10.000 kroner! B: ______! Det er jo helt vildt!
In this context, 'Hold kæft' expresses disbelief and excitement.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
5 FragenTechnically no, but it is 'grim sprog' (ugly language). It's on the border of being a swear word.
Some parents do, but 'Hold mund' is considered much better parenting in Denmark.
Use 'Vil du være sød at være stille?' (Would you be kind to be quiet?).
It's an intensifier. It shows that the news is so big, it 'shuts them up' with shock.
Always 'Hold kæft' in the idiom. 'Kæften' is only used when referring to the physical jaw.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Hold mund
similarShut up (slightly more polite)
Luk røven
specialized formShut the hell up (vulgar)
Ti stille
synonymBe quiet
Hold bøtte
similarShut up (mild/funny)
Hold din kæft
specialized formShut YOUR mouth
