Cállate la boca
blunt, rude
The closest everyday Spanish for "shut up" is Cállate la boca in Mexico. Cállate alone is shorter and ya cállate adds irritation.
Meaning: rude order to be quiet (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Mexican | Note |
|---|---|
| Cállate la boca | blunt, rude |
| Cállate | direct |
| Ya cállate | annoyed |
Cállate la boca is rude and sounds angry. Among friends cállate can be said as a joke, often with a laugh.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
With people you call usted you would avoid it completely. A polite way to ask for quiet is Silencio, por favor.
Did you know?
- The text-speak form "STFU" is not used in Spanish, so Mexicans say the full phrase instead.
Examples in context
- ¡Cállate la boca!Shut your mouth!
- Ya cállate, por favor.Be quiet already, please.
- Silencio, por favor.Quiet, please.
Example conversation
Two brothers, Beto and Andrés, argue in front of the television in their home in Chihuahua.
- BetoAndrés, cállate, quiero oír la película.Andrés, be quiet, I want to hear the movie.
- AndrésYa, no grites.Okay, do not shout.
- BetoGracias, ahora sí.Thanks, now we are good.
