Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| irse de la lengua | /ˌiɾse de la ˈlenɡwa/ |
| cantar de plano | /kanˌtaɾ de ˈplano/ |
| soltar la sopa | /soltaɾ la sopa/ (from spelling rules) |
These phrases are used when someone reveals a secret or discloses information that was meant to be kept private.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase irse de la lengua literally translates to 'to go from the tongue', implying that the tongue has escaped control. The phrase soltar la sopa literally means 'to let go of the soup'.
Which one should you use?
Irse de la lengua often implies that someone accidentally slipped up and said something they shouldn't have. In contrast, soltar la sopa can be used for both accidental slips and for intentional confessions.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Soltar la sopa is an informal and colloquial expression.
How does it change in a sentence?
When describing a situation where someone accidentally revealed a secret, you can use the reflexive form se le fue la lengua to mean 'his/her tongue went (away)'.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌiɾse de la ˈlenɡwa/
Did you know?
- Using cantar to mean confessing a secret mirrors the use of 'singing' in English crime dramas to describe an informant talking to the police.
- While soltar la sopa is common in Mexico, other Spanish-speaking countries may use different food-based metaphors or avoid the 'soup' imagery entirely.
- The word lengua in irse de la lengua is a cognate of both the English words 'tongue' and 'language'.
Example sentences for Spanish are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “spill the beans” translations and entries irse de la lengua, cantar de plano, 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 cantar, cantar de plano, de, irse, irse de la lengua, la, lengua, plano, CC BY-SA 4.0.
