cierra la boca
/θjera la boka/from spelling rules
In Spanish, "shut your mouth" is cierra la boca.
The phrase is used to command silence in a confrontational or highly disrespectful manner. While it functions as a command to stop talking immediately, it is a rude expression.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase cierra la boca literally translates to "close the mouth".
Which one should you use?
The single word cállate is a more common way to say "shut up," whereas cierra la boca is more descriptive and can feel more aggressive or pointed. For an expressive way to say "shut up once and for all," you can use Cállate de una vez. Additionally, the informal phrase Cierra el pico literally means "close your beak."
How does it change in a sentence?
The form cierra la boca is the informal singular imperative (tú command), used with friends, peers or people you are addressing rudely. To tell a group of people to shut their mouths, use the plural imperative cierren la boca.
Did you know?
- The word boca originally comes from the Latin word bucca, which specifically meant 'cheek' rather than the entire mouth.
- Although boca means 'mouth', it is also used in Spanish to describe the opening of a cave or the mouth of a river, known as la boca del río.
- In some regions, saying cierra la boca to a stranger can be interpreted as a profound social insult that may provoke a physical confrontation more quickly than the standard cállate.
Examples in context
- Cierra la boca.Shut your mouth.This example shows how to use cierra la boca as a direct command.Tatoeba #1001796 by hayastan, translation #240561 by CK
- ¡Cierra la boca ahora mismo!Shut your mouth right now!
- Si no tienes nada útil que decir, cierra la boca.If you have nothing useful to say, shut your mouth.
Example conversation
A heated argument between two people in a room.
- Daniel¡Ya basta, Elena, cierra la boca!Enough already, Elena, shut your mouth!
- Elena¡No me hables así, Daniel!Don't talk to me like that, Daniel!
- Daniel¡Eres imposible, siempre gritando!You are impossible, always shouting!
- Elena¡Pues no quiero escucharte más!Well, I don't want to listen to you anymore!
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.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
