cállate la boca
/kaʝate la boka/from spelling rules
The English phrase "shut your fat mouth" can be translated into Spanish as cállate la boca.
The phrase is a rude and aggressive way to tell someone to stop talking. While the English version adds an adjective to insult the person's appearance, the Spanish equivalent focuses directly on the act of shutting the mouth.
Which one should you use?
The English phrase "shut your fat mouth" includes an insulting adjective, but the Spanish equivalent cállate la boca is more standard in its focus on the action of shutting the mouth.
Did you know?
- In certain regions, the phrase can be escalated by using Cierra el pico, which literally means 'close the beak'.
- The Spanish word boca actually traces its roots back to the Latin bucca, which originally referred to the 'cheek' rather than the 'mouth'.
- While cállate la boca is aggressive, Spanish speakers often use the reflexive callarse to describe the act of keeping a secret or staying silent about a known truth.
Examples in context
- ¡Cállate la boca, idiota!Shut your mouth, idiot!
- ¡Cállate la boca de una vez!Shut your mouth once and for all!
Example conversation
María and Mateo are having a heated argument.
- MaríaNo tienes razón en nada.You aren't right about anything.
- Mateo¡Cállate la boca, María!Shut your mouth, María!
- MaríaNo me grites a mí.Don't yell at me.
- MateoEntonces deja de hablar.Then stop talking.
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.
