Meaning
To not reveal a secret.
Cultural Background
In Turkey, 'sırdaş' (secret-sharer) is a very high status for a friend. Keeping one's mouth shut is the primary requirement for being a 'sırdaş'. Many folk tales involve a hero who must keep a secret for 40 days and 40 nights to achieve a goal, emphasizing the difficulty and virtue of silence. Hierarchical structures in Turkish companies often mean that information is power. Keeping one's mouth shut is often a survival strategy. The 'Dilsizler' (Mutes) were employed in the Ottoman court specifically because they could literally keep their mouths shut about state secrets.
Use with 'Söz'
Pair it with 'Söz veriyorum' (I promise) to make your commitment to secrecy stronger.
Tone Matters
If you say this loudly to someone who is talking, it means 'Shut up' and is rude. Use a soft tone for 'Keep a secret'.
Meaning
To not reveal a secret.
Use with 'Söz'
Pair it with 'Söz veriyorum' (I promise) to make your commitment to secrecy stronger.
Tone Matters
If you say this loudly to someone who is talking, it means 'Shut up' and is rude. Use a soft tone for 'Keep a secret'.
The Vowel Drop
Always remember 'ağız' becomes 'ağzı'. Saying 'ağızını' is a dead giveaway that you are a beginner.
Body Language
Often accompanied by a gesture of putting a finger to the lips or a 'zipping' motion.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
Bu çok gizli bir bilgi, lütfen ________ kapalı tut.
The word 'ağız' drops its vowel to become 'ağzı' and takes the accusative suffix '-nı'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly to mean 'keeping a secret'?
Aşağıdakilerden hangisi doğrudur?
This sentence clearly uses the idiom in its figurative sense of keeping a secret.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: 'Patronun istifa edeceğini duydun mu?' Mehmet: 'Evet, ama kimse bilmiyor. Lütfen sen de ________.'
Mehmet is asking Ayşe to keep the secret.
Match the situation to the advice.
Bir arkadaşın sana sürpriz bir parti hakkında bilgi verdi.
Keeping a surprise requires keeping your mouth shut.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Register Comparison
Practice Bank
4 exercisesBu çok gizli bir bilgi, lütfen ________ kapalı tut.
The word 'ağız' drops its vowel to become 'ağzı' and takes the accusative suffix '-nı'.
Aşağıdakilerden hangisi doğrudur?
This sentence clearly uses the idiom in its figurative sense of keeping a secret.
Ayşe: 'Patronun istifa edeceğini duydun mu?' Mehmet: 'Evet, ama kimse bilmiyor. Lütfen sen de ________.'
Mehmet is asking Ayşe to keep the secret.
Bir arkadaşın sana sürpriz bir parti hakkında bilgi verdi.
Keeping a surprise requires keeping your mouth shut.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt depends on the context. As advice or a promise ('I will keep my mouth shut'), it's neutral. As a command to someone talking, it's rude.
'Kapalı' means closed, 'sıkı' means tight. 'Ağzını sıkı tutmak' is slightly more common for secrets, while 'kapalı' is more general.
Yes, but 'sessiz ol' is more polite for 'be quiet'. This idiom specifically implies not revealing information.
You say 'Ağzımı kapalı tuttum'.
Yes, 'Ketum davranmak' (to act discreetly) is the formal, professional version.
Yes, parents often tell children 'Ağzını kapalı tut' when they are about to spoil a surprise.
No, although literally it could, it is almost never used that way unless in a medical context.
The opposite is 'ağzı gevşek olmak' (to be loose-mouthed/a gossip).
Yes, frequently, to discuss NDAs or confidential projects informally.
This is a Turkish grammar rule called 'vowel dropping' which happens to some two-syllable words when they take a suffix starting with a vowel.
Related Phrases
ağzını sıkı tutmak
similarTo be tight-lipped.
sır saklamak
synonymTo keep a secret.
dilini tutmak
similarTo hold one's tongue.
ağzından baklayı çıkarmak
contrastTo spill the beans.
ser verip sır vermemek
specialized formTo die rather than reveal a secret.
