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callar

to be quiet

verb kah-YAHR Rare
Communication Speech

Also means

to silence

Usage Note

Callar can be intransitive ('to go quiet': cállate) or transitive ('to silence someone': lo calló). The reflexive callarse is the everyday command to stop talking — ¡Cállate! — while the transitive form implies forcing another person into silence. It is distinct from silenciar, which is more formal and often applied to devices or sounds.

Examples

"El público se calló de repente."

Natural Translation

The audience suddenly went quiet.

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