Learn French
with Audio Stories

Try for Free

HOME > FRENCH IDIOMS

The French quote "Ta gueule" explained

Ready to learn everything you need to know about the funny French idiom "Ta gueule"? This include a full guide of what it is and how to use it in everyday life with an audio example. Plus, we also added some super useful stuff like slow pronunciation audio, dialogue example, synonym and more!


English translation

  • Translation : Shut up

  • Literal meaning : Your mouth

  • Register : Informal - Funny - Swear

How to pronounce it?

Slow

Normal

  • IPA : / ta ɡœl /

aesthetic french quote ta gueule

Learn French
with Audio Stories

Try for Free

What does ta gueule mean?

Definition

The literal meaning is:

How to use it

There are many ways to say "Shut up" in French and even if it's never a pleasant thing to say, some ways are (much) more harsh than others.

You can find all the possibilities in the section "Synonyms" below, but basically if you want to say it "Politely" you can say: "Arrête de parler" or "Chut" or "Silence".

To say it "Vulgarly" use instead: "La ferme" or "Ta gueule" or "Ferme ta gueule"

But... What about "Tais-toi"? Well, it's right between these two groups: neither super polite, nor very vulgar. That's why it's better to use it with people you are comfortable with and definitely not in a work environment.

Synonyms / Related

↓ Example in a story with French audio ↓

Finally, let's see an example in a parallel story with slow audio.

L'humour au second degré

Second degree humor

En France, nous utilisons beaucoup "L'humour au second degré".
In France, we use a lot the "Second degree humor"
Pour comprendre ce que c'est, il faut savoir qu'avant le "second degré", il y a le "premier degré".
To understand what it is, you must know that before the "second degree", there is the "first degree".
Quand vous parlez au "premier degré" vous pensez vraiment ce que vous dites...
When you talk at the "first degree" you really think what you are saying.
Il n'y a pas de sous-entendu ni d'interprétation cachée.
There is no implication or hidden interpretation.
Mais quand vous parlez au "second degré" cela veut dire que vous faites de l'ironie, du sarcasme ou de l'humour.
But when you talk at the "second degree" it means that you are doing irony, sarcasm or humor.

10%

The story just started!

Get full access to 365 texts and quizzes, including this one.

Discover more

Already a member? Full story and quiz here.

← PREVIOUS

Ça me passe par dessus la tête

BACK

To vocabulary list

NEXT →

Tu me cours sur le haricot

Go to previous text Go to previous phrase
Play or pause audio
Go to next phrase Go to next text

x1

Speed

MANUAL

Mode

SHOW

Translation