cierra la boca
/θjera la boka/from spelling rules
The phrase 'close your mouth' in Spanish is cierra la boca.
This phrase is a command used to tell someone to stop talking or to be quiet. While it can be used as a literal instruction to close one's mouth, it is frequently used idiomatically to mean 'shut up'. In many contexts, telling someone to cierra la boca is considered rude or aggressive, similar to the English expression 'shut up'.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cierra la boca literally translates to 'close the mouth' rather than 'close your mouth'.
Which one should you use?
While the phrase can be a literal instruction, its idiomatic meaning of 'shut up' is common. The choice of form depends on whether you are addressing someone formally or informally.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cierra la boca and Cierra tu boca are informal ways to say 'close your mouth'. For a formal way to say 'close your mouth', use Cierre la boca or Cierre su boca.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this command with someone you address formally, use cierre la boca instead of cierra la boca.
Did you know?
- The word boca actually shares a distant ancestry with the English word 'beak'. Both words are thought to stem from ancient roots describing a prominent or projecting part of the face, such as a cheek or a snout.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, telling someone to cierra la boca is far more aggressive than the English 'shut up'. It is often viewed as a blunt social confrontation rather than just a request for silence.
- In Spanish, if you want to tell someone to be quiet without the aggression of cierra la boca, you would use the verb callar instead of mentioning the mouth entirely.
Examples in context
- Cierra la boca.Close your mouth.This sentence is useful for practicing the phrase cierra la boca.Tatoeba #1001796 by hayastan, translation #2245188 by CK
- ¡Cierra la boca para comer!Close your mouth to eat!This sentence shows the phrase cierra la boca being used in a command to eat.Tatoeba #11501774 by omniglotman, translation #11501770 by omniglotman
- Por favor, cierre la boca durante la conferenciaPlease, close your mouth during the conference
- ¡Cierra la boca y deja de hacer ruido mientras como!Close your mouth and stop making noise while I eat!
- ¡Cierra tu boca cuando mastiques!Close your mouth while you chew!
- ¡Cierra la boca y escúchame!Shut your mouth and listen to me!
Example conversation
Javier and Elena are arguing in a library.
- Javier¡Cierra la boca, Elena!Shut your mouth, Elena!
- ElenaNo puedo creer que me digas eso.I can't believe you are telling me that.
- JavierEstamos en una biblioteca.We are in a library.
- ElenaEstá bien, me callo.Fine, I'll be quiet.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries boca, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
