gueule
What does gueule mean? gueule is a French moderate that translates to “face, mug, trap (shut your trap)” in English.
Literal Translation
animal's mouth/muzzle
Meaning & Usage
01
"face, mug, trap (shut your trap)"
Technically the word for an animal's mouth, applied to humans to dehumanize. 'Ta gueule' (shut your mouth) is its most common deployment, but 'gueule' alone refers to someone's face in a deliberately crude way — 'il a une sale gueule' (he has an ugly mug). It's versatile and everywhere in spoken French.
Examples in the Wild
As a standalone: 'ferme ta gueule' (shut your face). As a descriptor: 'il fait la gueule' (he's sulking/making a face). As a compliment, rarely: 'il a de la gueule' (it has character/style).