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. Some variations are more literal or use animal-related imagery to increase the impact of the command.
What does it mean word for word?
The word cállate is a combination of the verb callar (to be quiet) and the reflexive pronoun te (you). The phrase cierra el pico literally means "shut your beak" and cállate el hocico literally means "shut your snout".
Which one should you use?
Use cállate when addressing one person and cállense when addressing more than one person. The phrase cierra la boca and cállate la boca are also used to mean "shut up".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cierra el pico is an informal way to ask someone to be quiet. Cállate el hocico is considered impolite and informal.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Cállate is the singular imperative form used for one person, whereas cállense is the plural form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate/
Did you know?
- The verb callar is used for both the act of being quiet and the act of keeping a secret, which English expresses with two different concepts.
- The word boca used in cállate la boca comes from the Latin bucca, which originally meant 'cheek' rather than 'mouth'.
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, saying cállate can be considered extremely rude even in casual settings, whereas 'shut up' is common among friends in English.
Examples in context
- Cállate o te echarán.Shut up or they'll throw you out.This sentence is useful for showing a consequence of not shutting up with cállate.Tatoeba #1678669 by termito2nd, translation #8955701 by DJ_Saidez
- ¡Dije cierra la boca!I said shut up!This sentence is useful for expressing an emphatic command with cierra la boca.Tatoeba #2943239 by marcelostockle, translation #1453550 by Spamster
- Por favor, cállate ya.Please, shut up already.This sentence is useful for adding "already" to the command with cállate.Tatoeba #7308234 by arh, translation #10102350 by espamatics
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are studying in a library.
- María¡Cállate, Alejandro!Shut up, Alejandro!
- AlejandroLo siento, María.I am sorry, María.
- MaríaNecesito concentrarme para el examen.I need to concentrate for the exam.
- 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.
