Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cállate | /ˈkaʝate/ | |
| cállate la boca | /kaʝate la boka/ (from spelling rules) | |
| cierra la boca | /θjera la boka/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sjera la boka/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| cállanse | /kaʝanse/ (from spelling rules) | |
| cierra el pico | /θjera el piko/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sjera el piko/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
informal |
| cállate el hocico | /kaʝate el oθiko/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /kaʝate el osiko/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
impolite, informal |
All the phrases listed here are used to tell someone to stop talking. While cállate is a standard command to be quiet, other variations like cierra la boca can feel more aggressive depending on how they are spoken.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cierra el pico literally translates to "shut your beak," and cállate el hocico literally translates to "shut your snout."
Which one should you use?
cállate is a direct command to be quiet, whereas cierra la boca is a more literal command meaning "close your mouth." When addressing a single person, use cállate, but if you are addressing a group of people, use cállanse.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For highly formal situations, you might say Le ruego que guarde silencio, Sería amable si se callara or Le pido que deje de hablar. In informal settings, you can use cállate or deja de hablar. The phrase cierra el pico is colloquial, while cállate el hocico is considered impolite, rude and aggressive, often used in heated arguments.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Latin American countries, you may hear cierra el pico (shut your beak) or cállate el hocico (shut your snout).
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form cállate is used when speaking to one person. If you want to tell a group of people to shut up, use the plural form cállanse.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase cállate is often accompanied by a finger pressed against the lips, but doing so to a superior can be seen as a grave insult.
- The word boca shares its history with the Latin word bucca, which originally referred to the 'cheek' rather than the opening of the mouth.
- If you use the phrase cállate el hocico in an argument, you are not just telling someone to be quiet, you are calling them an animal by referring to a 'snout'.
Examples in context
- Cállate o te echarán.Shut up or they'll throw you out.This sentence shows how to use cállate in a warning.Tatoeba #1678669 by termito2nd, translation #8955701 by DJ_Saidez
- ¡Dije cierra la boca!I said shut up!This sentence uses cierra la boca to show an emphatic command.Tatoeba #2943239 by marcelostockle, translation #1453550 by Spamster
- Por favor, cállate ya.Please, shut up already.This sentence uses cállate to express a desire for someone to stop talking immediately.Tatoeba #7308234 by arh, translation #10102350 by espamatics
- ¡Cállate, por favor! Estamos intentando ver la película.Shut up, please! We are trying to watch the movie.
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Javier are in a quiet library.
- Sofía¡Cállate, Javier, estamos en la biblioteca!Shut up, Javier, we are in the library!
- JavierLo siento, no quería hacer ruido.I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make noise.
- SofíaSolo intenta estar en silencio.Just try to be silent.
- JavierEstá bien, me callo.Okay, I'll be quiet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations and entries cállate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- 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.
