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 |
Cállate is the direct and common way to say "shut up" in an informal setting. If you want to be less direct, you can use the informal phrase ¡No digas nada!, which means "Don't say anything".
What does it mean word for word?
Cállate el hocico literally means "shut your snout", using a term for an animal's mouth to be insulting. Cierra el pico literally means "shut your beak", using a bird-related metaphor to tell someone to be quiet.
Which one should you use?
Cállate is the standard way to say "shut up". The phrase cállate la boca (shut your mouth) is used to add emphasis to the command.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cállate is informal. Cállate el hocico is both informal and impolite. Cierra el pico is an informal way to tell someone to be quiet.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Use cállate when addressing one person. Use cállense when addressing more than one person.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate/
Did you know?
- The word boca for 'mouth' actually comes from the Latin word bucca, which originally meant 'cheek'.
- Using hocico to tell someone to shut up is a severe insult because it compares the person to a dog or a pig.
- In formal Spanish, such as in a courtroom or a strict classroom, the command guarden silencio is used instead of any form of cállate to maintain dignity.
Examples in context
- Cállate o te echarán.Shut up or they'll throw you out.This sentence shows how to use cállate to warn someone.Tatoeba #1678669 by termito2nd, translation #8955701 by DJ_Saidez
- ¡Dije cierra la boca!I said shut up!This sentence shows an emphatic use of cierra la boca.Tatoeba #2943239 by marcelostockle, translation #1453550 by Spamster
- Por favor, cállate ya.Please, shut up already.This sentence shows how to use cállate with the word "already".Tatoeba #7308234 by arh, translation #10102350 by espamatics
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are trying to study in a library.
- Sofía¡Cállate, Alejandro, no puedo concentrarme!Shut up, Alejandro, I cannot concentrate!
- AlejandroPerdón, Sofía, no quería molestarte.Sorry, Sofia, I didn't mean to bother you.
- SofíaSolo necesito silencio ahora.I just need silence now.
- AlejandroEstá bien, no diré nada más.Okay, I won't say anything else.
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.
