Meaning
To say something inappropriate or critical and then regret it.
Cultural Background
In German offices, 'Direktheit' is valued, but criticizing a superior in front of others is a major taboo. Doing so is the most common way to 'sich den Mund verbrennen'. Historically, this idiom had a literal danger. People had to be extremely careful not to 'burn their mouths' by criticizing the government, as the Stasi (secret police) were everywhere. In Austria, the phrase is just as common, but the social 'punishment' might be more subtle, often involving 'Grant' (grumpiness) from the other person. The Swiss value 'Höflichkeit' (politeness) and 'Zurückhaltung' (restraint). 'Sich den Mund verbrennen' happens much faster here because the threshold for what is considered 'too direct' is lower.
Reflexive Pronoun
Don't forget the 'mir/dir/sich'. Without it, the sentence is grammatically incomplete.
Use with 'ordentlich'
Adding 'ordentlich' (properly) makes you sound very native when describing a big mistake.
Meaning
To say something inappropriate or critical and then regret it.
Reflexive Pronoun
Don't forget the 'mir/dir/sich'. Without it, the sentence is grammatically incomplete.
Use with 'ordentlich'
Adding 'ordentlich' (properly) makes you sound very native when describing a big mistake.
Diplomacy
In Germany, if you want to avoid burning your mouth, use 'Konjunktiv II' (Ich würde sagen...) to soften your criticism.
Test Yourself
Fülle die Lücke mit dem richtigen Reflexivpronomen.
Ich habe ____ gestern bei der Besprechung ordentlich den Mund verbrannt.
The idiom 'sich den Mund verbrennen' requires the dative reflexive pronoun. For 'ich', that is 'mir'.
Welche Situation passt am besten zu der Redewendung?
Wann verbrennt man sich den Mund?
The idiom refers to the negative consequences of speaking too critically.
Vervollständige den Dialog.
A: 'Soll ich ihm sagen, dass sein neues Auto hässlich ist?' B: 'Lieber nicht. ...'
This is a standard warning using the correct grammar.
Ordne die Bedeutung zu.
Was bedeutet 'sich den Mund verbrennen' in einem politischen Kontext?
In politics, a 'burned mouth' means a PR disaster caused by words.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Mund vs. Finger
Practice Bank
4 exercisesIch habe ____ gestern bei der Besprechung ordentlich den Mund verbrannt.
The idiom 'sich den Mund verbrennen' requires the dative reflexive pronoun. For 'ich', that is 'mir'.
Wann verbrennt man sich den Mund?
The idiom refers to the negative consequences of speaking too critically.
A: 'Soll ich ihm sagen, dass sein neues Auto hässlich ist?' B: 'Lieber nicht. ...'
This is a standard warning using the correct grammar.
Was bedeutet 'sich den Mund verbrennen' in einem politischen Kontext?
In politics, a 'burned mouth' means a PR disaster caused by words.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, absolutely. 'Ich habe mir den Mund an der heißen Pizza verbrannt' is perfectly correct.
No, but it is informal. Telling someone 'Du hast dir den Mund verbrannt' is a neutral observation of their mistake.
There is no real difference in meaning. 'Mund' is slightly more common for general speech, 'Zunge' for specific slips of the tongue.
Not really. You wouldn't say 'Der Mund wurde verbrannt.' It's almost always reflexive.
No. It always implies a negative consequence or regret.
You can use 'sich den Mund verbrennen' or 'ins Fettnäpfchen treten'.
Only if you have a very close relationship with the recipient. Otherwise, it's too informal.
There isn't a direct opposite idiom, but 'sich diplomatisch ausdrücken' (to express oneself diplomatically) is the desired behavior.
Yes, you can burn your mouth (metaphorically) by writing a controversial tweet or email.
'Brennen' is the state of being on fire; 'verbrennen' is the action of being injured by fire.
Related Phrases
ins Fettnäpfchen treten
similarTo make a social gaffe.
kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen
contrastTo speak very directly and honestly.
sich die Zunge verbrennen
synonymExactly the same as sich den Mund verbrennen.
jemandem über den Mund fahren
relatedTo interrupt someone rudely.
