callar
be quiet · become silent · fall silent
Dejar de hablar o no decir nada.
Definition & meaning
The verb callar means to keep quiet, to be silent, or to stop talking. It can also mean to suppress or conceal information.
- To be silent: To refrain from speaking or to stop making noise.
- To silence someone: To force or persuade someone to stop speaking (often used as callar a alguien).
- To keep secret: To withhold information or refrain from mentioning something.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- callar is a regular first-conjugation verb (-ar).
- It is often used as a pronominal verb: callarse . When used reflexively, it carries the sense of "to shut up" or "to become silent."
Origin:
- The word comes from the Latin calare, meaning to summon or proclaim, though in Vulgar Latin it evolved into calare (to be silent) through the influence of the Latin cadere (to fall), implying that one's voice "falls" or drops away.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- Silenciar : To silence.
- Callar (reflexive form): To shut up.
- Enmudecer : To become mute or speechless.
- Reservar : To withhold or keep back.
Antonyms:
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Examples
Por favor, cállate un momento.verb
Please be quiet for a moment.
Debemos callar en la biblioteca.verb
We must be quiet in the library.
Ellos callan cuando comienza la película.verb
They become silent when the movie starts.
Callaron en el momento adecuado.verb
They fell silent at the right moment.
El profesor pide a los alumnos que se callen en clase.verb
The teacher asks the students to be quiet in class.
A veces los estudiantes deben callar en clase.verb
Sometimes students must be quiet in class.
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