cala a boca
/ˈka.lɐ a ˈbo.kɐ/
The English phrase "shut up" translates to Portuguese as cala a boca. If unsure, use cala a boca. Wiktionary also lists cale-se and cale a boca.
Meaning: "Stop talking." (intj)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| cala a boca | /ˈka.lɐ a ˈbo.kɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈka.l‿ɐ ˈbo.kɐ/ (Brazil) |
| cale-se | |
| cale a boca | /ˈka.li a ˈbo.kɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈka.l‿ɐ ˈbo.kɐ/ (Portugal) |
| cala-te |
The phrase is used to command someone to stop talking. While cala a boca is a direct translation of "shut up", you might also use Fica quieto/a to mean "stay quiet".
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cala a boca literally means "shut the mouth".
Which one should you use?
Cala a boca is the informal way to say "shut up", used with friends or in anger. In contrast, cale-se is a more formal or polite way to command someone to be quiet compared to cala a boca.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In European Portuguese, specifically when addressing "tu", the reflexive form cala-te is used to mean "shut up".
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈka.lɐ a ˈbo.kɐ/. It has 4 syllables and the stress is on the 1st syllable.
Did you know?
- In Brazil, cala a boca can be used as a playful or flirtatious expression between couples, losing its aggressive meaning entirely.
- In some regions of Brazil, people use cala a boca as an expression of disbelief, similar to saying 'no way' or 'stop it' in English.
- The word boca comes from the Latin bucca, which was actually borrowed from a Celtic language rather than being native to Rome.
Examples in context
- Cala a boca, idiota!Shut up, dumbass!This sentence shows how to use cala a boca when calling someone an idiot.Tatoeba #1664775 by alexmarcelo, translation #4824039 by whitefishglobal
- Cala a boca e senta.Shut up and sit down.This example uses cala a boca as a command to sit down.Tatoeba #2500525 by alexmarcelo, translation #2499064 by Hybrid
- Cala a boca e dirige.Shut up and drive.This sentence uses cala a boca as a command to drive.Tatoeba #6771896 by lucasmg123, translation #5757828 by CM
- Cala a boca, pessoal! O filme já vai começar.Shut up, guys! The movie is about to start.
- 27 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas is complaining loudly while Mariana is trying to study.
- MarianaLucas, cala a boca, por favor.Lucas, shut up, please.
- LucasEu só estava falando a verdade.I was only telling the truth.
- MarianaEu não quero ouvir nada.I don't want to hear anything.
- LucasTudo bem, eu vou ficar quieto.Alright, I will be quiet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shut up” translations and entries cala a boca, cale a boca, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, boca, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
