How to Say Shut Up in French (Without Starting a Fight)

Telling someone to shut up isn’t easy in any language, and French is no exception. Depending on your tone, who you’re talking to, and the situation, it can range from polite to downright aggressive.

In French culture, it’s absolutely possible to ask people to be quiet, but how you do it makes all the difference.

Here’s my personal recommendation: Start diplomatic. Go neutral if needed. Be firm if necessary. Get mad in your own language if nothing works. At least you’ll get their attention, and sometimes that’s all you need to restore silence. 😉

So, how to say shut up in French?

The Basics: Direct Ways to Say “Shut Up”

Let’s start with the standard, straight-to-the-point phrases.

Taisez-vous !
→ Shut up! (formal/plural)
Used when addressing a group or someone you don’t know well.

Tais-toi !
→ Shut up! (informal/singular)
Used with someone you know well, like a friend or family member.

Both come from the reflexive verb se taire, which means “to be quiet” or literally “to shut oneself up.” In these examples, we’re using the imperative form, which is used for giving orders.

💡 Personally? I rarely use these unless I really have to. They feel a bit too sharp for everyday use.

To balance things out, after learning a strong phrase like “shut up,” you can add some politeness with please in French.

Softer Alternatives (My Preferred Style)

If you want to stay polite (and preserve good vibes), try something gentler:

S’il vous plaît, chut.
→ Please, shhh.

S’il vous plaît, silence.
→ Silence, please.

🎧 Note: In chut, you do pronounce the “t” at the end, unusual in French, but true here!

Pair these with the universal body language:
👆 Index finger in front of your lips + slightly furrowed brows. Works like a charm.

The Diplomatic Approach

Need quiet in a public setting (like before giving a speech)? Use one of these:

Un peu de calme, s’il vous plaît.
→ Let’s have a little quiet, please.

Un peu de silence, s’il vous plaît.
→ A little silence, please.

These are perfect for addressing a crowd without sounding harsh.

The Polite-but-Firm Way (e.g. At the Movies)

If someone next to you is talking too much during a film, you can gently say:

Vous pourriez arrêter de parler, s’il vous plaît ?
→ Could you please stop talking? (formal)

Tu pourrais arrêter de parler, s’il te plaît ? Je regarde le film.
→ Could you stop talking, please? I’m watching the movie. (informal)

Still polite, but you’re clearly drawing a line.

Direct and Neutral

These are no-frills, straight-up commands:

Arrête de parler.
Arrêtez de parler.
→ Stop talking.

Not rude, not soft, just to the point.

Firm (and Rude!) Versions

Sometimes you need to bring out the big guns. Here are some stronger, less polite options:

Boucle-la.
→ Zip it.

Ferme-la. / La ferme.
→ Shut up.

Ferme ta bouche.
→ Shut your mouth.

And the very strong

Ta gueule !
→ Shut the f** up.*

Ferme ta gueule !
→ Really, shut your mouth.

🚨 These are considered vulgar and aggressive. Only use them if you’re really angry, or watching French TV drama. (You’ll hear them more often there.)

🎬 A great example:
Remember Sylvie from Emily in Paris?
She tells Emily (Season 4, Episode 3 or 4):

“Ferme ton clapet. Ça veut dire ‘tais-toi.’”
(Shut your trap. That means “shut up.”)

Final Thoughts

The words you choose matter, but so does your tone. In French, it’s often less about what you say, and more about how you say it.

Smile a little. Use a calm tone. People will usually respond well. But raise your voice or look angry, and you might get some pushback, because, like everywhere else, no one really likes being told what to do.

That said, a polite reminder to keep the volume down is totally fair, and often appreciated. ✨

Learning strong phrases? You might also want to know how to say no in French for everyday situations.