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 |
These expressions are used to tell someone to stop talking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cállate el hocico literally means "shut your snout," where hocico refers to the snout or muzzle of an animal. The phrase cierra el pico literally means "shut your beak," using pico (a bird's beak) as a colloquial way to refer to a person's mouth.
Which one should you use?
While cállate is the most common way to say shut up, cierra la boca is a more literal way to say "close your mouth".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cállate is a common, informal and direct way to ask someone to be quiet. For a more polite or formal approach, you can use Por favor, guarde silencio (Please maintain silence) or Le agradecería que se callara (I would appreciate it if you could be quiet). In contrast, cállate el hocico is highly impolite and insulting, while cierra el pico is informal and colloquial.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Use cállate when speaking to one person informally. If you are addressing more than one person, use cállanse.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate/
Did you know?
- The Spanish word boca shares a potential linguistic ancestor with the English word 'beak'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, telling someone cállate can be seen as much more aggressive and confrontational than a simple 'shut up' in English.
- While cállate is a direct command, the verb callar also means 'to keep a secret' or 'to hide information'.
Examples in context
- Cállate o te echarán.Shut up or they'll throw you out.This sentence shows the consequence of not shutting up using cállate.Tatoeba #1678669 by termito2nd, translation #8955701 by DJ_Saidez
- ¡Dije cierra la boca!I said shut up!This sentence expresses a forceful command to shut up using cierra la boca.Tatoeba #2943239 by marcelostockle, translation #1453550 by Spamster
- Por favor, cállate ya.Please, shut up already.This sentence provides a way to ask someone to shut up already using cállate.Tatoeba #7308234 by arh, translation #10102350 by espamatics
- Cállate, estoy intentando concentrarmeShut up, I'm trying to concentrate
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are trying to watch a movie at home.
- Sofía¡Cállate, Daniel, estoy intentando escuchar la película!Shut up, Daniel, I am trying to listen to the movie!
- DanielPerdón, Sofía, no me di cuenta.Sorry, Sofia, I didn't realize.
- SofíaEs que hablas demasiado.It's just that you talk too much.
- DanielEstá bien, me quedo en silencio.Alright, I'll stay 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.
