der Mund
mouth
The body opening in the face of humans and animals that is used for breathing, eating, drinking, and making sounds.
EXAMPLE
Der Zahnarzt sagte, ich solle den Mund weit aufmachen.
The dentist said I should open my mouth wide.
der Mund
mouth
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Meanings
den Mund halten
to shut up
To be quiet; to stop talking.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte mal fünf Minuten den Mund halten?
Can you please shut up for five minutes?
von Mund zu Mund
by word of mouth
Describes the spread of information through oral retelling from person to person.
EXAMPLE
Die Nachricht von seiner Kündigung ging wie ein Lauffeuer von Mund zu Mund.
The news of his dismissal spread like wildfire by word of mouth.
Usage tips
Word in idioms
'Mund' (mouth) is a very productive word in German idioms. When you hear an expression with 'Mund', it often has a figurative, metaphorical meaning.
EXAMPLE
Er ist nicht auf den Mund gefallen und hat immer eine schnelle Antwort parat.
He is quick-witted and always has a quick answer ready.
Register and style
The command 'Halt den Mund!' (Shut up!) is very direct and colloquial. Depending on tone and situation, it can be perceived as rude or even aggressive.
EXAMPLE
Sei still, ich muss mich konzentrieren! Halt doch mal den Mund!
Be quiet, I need to concentrate! Just shut up for a moment!
Typical verbs
The expression 'von Mund zu Mund' (by word of mouth) is often combined with verbs that describe spreading or movement. Typical phrases are 'von Mund zu Mund gehen' (to go by word of mouth) or 'sich von Mund zu Mund verbreiten' (to spread by word of mouth).
EXAMPLE
Das Gerücht über den neuen Chef ging schnell von Mund zu Mund.
The rumor about the new boss quickly spread by word of mouth.
Compare with
Mund vs Zunge
tongue
Mund and Zunge can both be involved in speaking, but the fixed expression determines the nuance. Den Mund halten tells someone to be quiet, whereas sich die Zunge verbrennen describes making a thoughtless remark with negative consequences. Mund is appropriate for telling someone to be quiet; Zunge is used in the idiom.
Mund
Nach seinem unbedachten Kommentar hielt er den Mund und sagte nichts mehr.
After his thoughtless comment, he kept quiet and said nothing more.
Zunge
Mit seiner unbedachten Bemerkung verbrannte er sich die Zunge.
His thoughtless remark got him into trouble.
In real life
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