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 |
All these phrases 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," and cierra el pico literally means "shut your beak."
Which one should you use?
Use cállate when addressing one person in an informal context. Use cállense when addressing a group of people. cierra el pico is a more colloquial version.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cállate is the informal way to say shut up to one person. For a more polite or formal approach, you can say Te agradecería que te callaras (I would appreciate it if you stayed quiet). If you want to be less blunt, you can use the colloquial Quédate callado/a (stay quiet) or the informal Deja de hablar (stop talking). On the other hand, cállate el hocico is highly impolite and aggressive and cierra el pico is informal and colloquial.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the phrase cállate el hocico is used to mean "Shut your muzzle."
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Cállate is the imperative form for a single person. When you need to address multiple people, use the plural form cállense.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate/
Did you know?
- While cállate tells someone to stop talking, the verb callar can also mean 'to keep a secret' or 'to hide something'.
- The Spanish word boca for 'mouth' actually originates from the Latin word bucca, which meant 'cheek'.
- Using hocico in cállate el hocico is an animalistic insult because it refers to the snout of a pig or dog.
Examples in context
- Cállate o te echarán.Shut up or they'll throw you out.This sentence shows how to use cállate to give a warning.Tatoeba #1678669 by termito2nd, translation #8955701 by DJ_Saidez
- ¡Dije cierra la boca!I said shut up!This sentence demonstrates an emphatic use of cierra la boca.Tatoeba #2943239 by marcelostockle, translation #1453550 by Spamster
- Por favor, cállate ya.Please, shut up already.This sentence shows how to use cállate with a polite addition.Tatoeba #7308234 by arh, translation #10102350 by espamatics
- 44 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and María are arguing in their living room.
- Mateo¡Cállate, María!Shut up, María!
- María¡No me digas eso!Don't tell me that!
- MateoSolo quiero estar en silencio.I just want to be in silence.
- MaríaEstá bien, me callaré.Fine, I'll shut up.
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.
