cállate la boca
/kaʝate la boka/from spelling rules
The English phrase "shut up your mouth" is translated into Spanish as cállate la boca.
This phrase is an aggressive or rude command used to tell someone to stop talking immediately.
What does it mean word for word?
The expression is composed of the reflexive verb callarse (to shut oneself) and the noun phrase la boca (the mouth).
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter the informal forms ¡Cállate! (Shut up!) or ¡Cierra el pico! (Close your beak!). If you are addressing a group of people rather than an individual, you must use the plural form cállense la boca (shut your mouths).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase cállate la boca is highly informal and can be perceived as very rude or confrontational depending on the tone of voice used.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, when referring to body parts, it is more natural to use the definite article la instead of the possessive adjective tu (your).
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using the phrase with a finger pointed toward the person is considered a major physical provocation beyond just the verbal insult.
- The word boca actually shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'beak'. Both words likely stem from a common source referring to a protruding part of the face, such as a cheek or a snout.
- While English speakers might say 'shut up', adding 'your mouth' in Spanish makes the command feel significantly more personal and confrontational than just saying ¡Cállate!
Examples in context
- ¡Juan, cállate! Estoy tratando de escuchar música sin distracciones.Juan, shut up! I'm trying to listen to music without distractions.
- Oye, cierra el pico un rato. Estamos intentando resolver el rompecabezas.Hey, shut up for a while. We're trying to solve the puzzle.
- ¡Cállate la boca ahora mismo!Shut up your mouth right now!
- Si no tienes nada bueno que decir, cállate la boca.If you have nothing good to say, shut up your mouth.
- ¡Cállate la boca y déjame en paz!Shut up your mouth and leave me alone!
Example conversation
Two people are arguing during a game.
- Mateo¡Tú siempre haces trampa, Sofía!You always cheat, Sofia!
- Sofía¡Cállate la boca, Mateo!Shut your mouth, Mateo!
- MateoNo me digas cómo hablar.Don't tell me how to speak.
- SofíaEntonces deja de gritar.Then stop shouting.
Sources
- 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.
