la ferme

//la fɛʁm//exclamation

What does la ferme mean? la ferme is a French moderate that translates to “shut up” in English.

the farm (euphemism for 'ferme ta gueule')

01

"shut up"

A truncated version of 'ferme ta gueule' (shut your animal mouth) or 'ferme-la' (close it). By cutting the phrase short, it achieves a certain sharpness — the abruptness of the truncation mirrors the abruptness of the command. Everyone knows what's been left unsaid.

'La ferme!' — shut up! Said with irritation but not necessarily rage. 'Oh, la ferme!' — oh, shut up! (exasperated).