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 phrases are used to tell someone to stop talking. While cállate is the most straightforward equivalent, there are several ways to express this depending on how many people you are addressing and how polite or rude you wish to be.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cállate el hocico literally means "shut your snout", using a word for an animal's snout to be insulting. Similarly, cierra el pico literally translates to "shut your beak", using a bird's beak as a metaphor for a person's mouth.
Which one should you use?
Use cállate when addressing a single person informally. If you are addressing more than one person, use the plural form cállense.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The forms vary significantly in politeness. Cállate is informal. For a more polite request, you can use Guarde silencio to ask someone to remain silent or Le agradecería que se callara to express a request for someone to be quiet. Conversely, cállate el hocico is impolite and informal and cierra el pico is an informal way to ask someone to shut their beak.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase Cállate ya is an informal way to tell someone to shut up.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate/
Did you know?
- The word callar does not just mean to 'shut up' but can also mean to keep a secret or remain silent about a known fact.
- The Spanish word boca for 'mouth' actually originates from the Latin word bucca, which meant 'cheek'.
- In some Spanish dialects, adding ya to cállate does not just mean 'already' but functions as an intensifier to signal that the speaker's patience has completely run out.
Examples in context
- Cállate o te echarán.Shut up or they'll throw you out.This sentence uses cállate to show a consequence for not shutting up.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 show a request to shut up already.Tatoeba #7308234 by arh, translation #10102350 by espamatics
- Cállate, por favor.Shut up, please.
- Le agradecería que se callara un momento.I would appreciate it if you could be quiet for a moment.
- ¡Cállate la boca, por favor!Shut your mouth, please!
- Cierra el pico y déjame hablar.Close your beak and let me speak.
- ¡Cállate de una vez, por favor!Shut up right now, please!
- Deja de hablar, ¿quieres?Stop talking, will you?
- No digas ni una palabra más.Don't say another word.
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A movie theater during a film.
- Javier¡Cállate, María!Shut up, María!
- MaríaLo siento, Javier.I'm sorry, Javier.
- JavierNo puedo oír la película.I can't hear the movie.
- MaríaEstá bien, no hablaré más.Alright, I won't talk anymore.
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.
