Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| cállate la boca | /kaʝate la boka/ (from spelling rules) | |
| cállate | /ˈkaʝate/ /ˈkaʎate/ /ˈkaʃate/ /ˈkaʒate/ /ˈkajate/ |
|
| cierra la boca | /θjera la boka/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sjera la boka/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
|
| cállanse | /kaʝanse/ (from spelling rules) | |
| cállate el hocico | /kaʝate el oθiko/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /kaʝate el osiko/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
impolite, informal |
| cierra el pico | /θjera el piko/ (Spain, from spelling rules) /sjera el piko/ (Latin America, from spelling rules) |
informal |
The primary way to tell someone to stop talking is to use cállate. You might also use cierra la boca (close your mouth), which is a more literal and descriptive way to command silence.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cállate el hocico literally translates to "shut your snout", using the word for an animal's snout to insult a person.
Which one should you use?
While cállate is the standard way to say "shut up", cierra la boca serves as a more literal command to close one's mouth. Other variations include the colloquial cierra el pico, which functions similarly to "shut your trap" in English.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cállate is a common and straightforward informal way to say "shut up". Cierra el pico is also informal. For a highly impolite and insulting option, you can use cállate el hocico, which compares the person to an animal. If you need to be formal, you should use the phrase guarde silencio to ask someone to keep silent or simply silencio to ask for quietness.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form you use depends on how many people you are addressing. Use cállate when addressing only one person, and use cállense when addressing more than one person.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate/. The stress is on the first syllable: KA-ya-te.
Did you know?
- In some Latin American countries, cállate can be used jokingly between very close friends to mean 'no way' or 'you are kidding'.
- Because boca shares an ancestor with the Latin 'bucca', it is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'beak'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, commanding silence with cállate can be perceived as much more aggressive and confrontational than the English 'shut up'.
Examples in context
- Cállate o te echarán.Shut up or they'll throw you out.This sentence shows cállate used as 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 as a direct command.Tatoeba #2943239 by marcelostockle, translation #1453550 by Spamster
- Por favor, cállate ya.Please, shut up already.This sentence shows cállate used with a request for politeness.Tatoeba #7308234 by arh, translation #10102350 by espamatics
- Juan: ¿Sabes qué? No me cae bien tu hermano. | María: ¡Cállate! Deberías darle una oportunidad.Juan: You know what? I don't like your brother. | María: Shut up! You should give him a chance.
- Pedro: No tienes ni idea de lo que dices. | Laura: Calla, nunca sabes de lo que hablas.Pedro: You have no idea what you're talking about. | Laura: Shut up, you never know what you're talking about.
- Señor Rodríguez: Por favor, cállense. Estamos en una conferencia.Mr. Rodríguez: Please, be quiet. We are in a conference.
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are studying together in a library.
- Alejandro¡Cállate, Lucía, no puedo concentrarme!Shut up, Lucía, I can't concentrate!
- LucíaPerdón, Alejandro, no quería molestarte.Sorry, Alejandro, I didn't want to bother you.
- AlejandroSolo necesito un poco de silencio.I just need a little silence.
- LucíaEstá bien, no diré nada más.Alright, 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.
