• merc@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      “Ferme ta bouche” (shut your mouth) or “ferme la” (shut it) are not mild, but not as strong as “ferme ta gueule” or “ta gueule”. I don’t know if there’s a real difference between “ferme ta gueule” or “ta gueule”, it probably depends more on how it’s said than the words. Once you start using “gueule” it’s a pretty strong form.

      Really the two words “ta gueule” is shorthand for effectively saying “you have the mouth of an animal (a predator?) not a human, and you should shut it”.

      The closest English equivalent is “shut your hole”.

      • can@sh.itjust.works
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        8 months ago

        Thank you for elaborating. I think a literal English equivalent could also be “shut your trap”?

        • merc@sh.itjust.works
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          8 months ago

          Yeah, that’s a good one. It’s always hard to find exact matches though because of cultural differences.