Significado
Telling someone to be quiet.
Contexto cultural
The Dutch are known for being very direct. While 'Hou je mond' is rude, it is often used more freely in Dutch families than in many other cultures where hierarchy is more strictly enforced. In the busy Randstad area (Amsterdam, Rotterdam), speech is often faster and can seem more aggressive. 'Hou je mond' is heard very frequently here as a way to cut through the noise. In multicultural urban areas, 'Hou je mond' is often replaced by 'Hou je bek' or even words from Surinamese or Arabic, but it remains the foundational phrase everyone understands. Dutch comedians often use the phrase to highlight the absurdity of Dutch social interactions. It is a staple of 'plat' (low-brow) comedy.
Social Suicide
Never say this to your Dutch teacher or boss. Even if they are wrong, this phrase is a bridge too far.
Soften the Blow
Add 'even' (Hou je mond even) to make it sound slightly less like an attack and more like a request for a moment of silence.
Significado
Telling someone to be quiet.
Social Suicide
Never say this to your Dutch teacher or boss. Even if they are wrong, this phrase is a bridge too far.
Soften the Blow
Add 'even' (Hou je mond even) to make it sound slightly less like an attack and more like a request for a moment of silence.
The Disbelief Factor
Use it with a rising intonation when a friend tells you something crazy. It works exactly like the English 'Shut up! No way!'
Directness vs. Rudeness
Observe how Dutch people use it. If they are smiling, it's banter. If they aren't, it's a real conflict.
Ponte a prueba
Which of these is the most natural way to tell a friend to shut up in Dutch?
Je vriend praat te veel. Wat zeg je?
'Hou je mond!' is the most natural informal command.
Fill in the missing word to complete the phrase.
Hou ___ mond, ik probeer te slapen!
The reflexive/possessive 'je' is the standard part of this idiom.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
1. 'Zou u stil willen zijn?' | 2. 'Hou je mond!' | 3. 'Hou je bek!'
Formality levels must match the social context.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ik denk dat de leraar een pruik draagt.' B: 'Haha, ___! Dat is niet waar.'
In this playful context, 'hou je mond' acts like 'no way!'.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Mond vs. Bek vs. Kop
Situations for Silence
Conflict
- • Arguments
- • Fights
- • Annoyance
Secrets
- • Surprises
- • Gossip
- • Confidences
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosJe vriend praat te veel. Wat zeg je?
'Hou je mond!' is the most natural informal command.
Hou ___ mond, ik probeer te slapen!
The reflexive/possessive 'je' is the standard part of this idiom.
1. 'Zou u stil willen zijn?' | 2. 'Hou je mond!' | 3. 'Hou je bek!'
Formality levels must match the social context.
A: 'Ik denk dat de leraar een pruik draagt.' B: 'Haha, ___! Dat is niet waar.'
In this playful context, 'hou je mond' acts like 'no way!'.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
14 preguntasNo, it is not a swear word, but it is considered rude or 'onbeschoft' in many contexts.
Yes, among close friends it is very common, often used playfully.
'Bek' refers to an animal's mouth, making 'Hou je bek' much more insulting and aggressive.
Use 'Zou je stil willen zijn?' or 'Mag ik even wat zeggen?'
In spoken Dutch, the 'd' at the end of imperatives is often dropped for ease of pronunciation.
Always use 'je'. 'Jouw' sounds very unnatural in this idiom.
Parents say it to their children, but it's considered better parenting to say 'Wees eens even stil'.
It's a cute, diminutive version used with small children, meaning 'Little mouth closed'.
Yes, but Flemish people might also use 'Zwijg!' or 'Hou uw bakkes!'
Only in a very informal email to a close friend. Never in business correspondence.
Yes, 'Ik hou mijn mond' means 'I will keep my mouth shut/I won't tell'.
The past tense is 'hield zijn/haar mond'. For example: 'Hij hield zijn mond.'
In modern Dutch, you just say 'Hou je mond' to a group, or 'Houden jullie je mond'.
Extremely. It's the standard way characters express annoyance.
Frases relacionadas
Hou je bek
specialized formShut your trap (very rude)
Zwijg
synonymBe silent
Snavel dicht
similarBeak closed
Stil zijn
similarTo be quiet
Je mond voorbij praten
builds onTo let a secret slip
Kop dicht
specialized formHead shut
