calar

Senses

1. 1.

   to silence, to shut up

   to make someone stop talking or to stop talking oneself

2. 2.

   to keep quiet, to remain silent

   to refrain from speaking or expressing one's opinion

3. 3.

   to suppress, to conceal

   to hide feelings, thoughts, or information

Examples

• "Você pode se calar? Estou tentando me concentrar."

  Can you shut up? I'm trying to concentrate.

• "Ela preferiu calar a verdade para não magoar ninguém."

  She preferred to conceal the truth so as not to hurt anyone.

• "É melhor calar a boca do que falar besteira."

  It's better to keep your mouth shut than to talk nonsense.

Usage

Very common verb in everyday speech. The reflexive form "calar-se" is frequently used. The imperative "cala a boca!" (shut up!) is quite direct and can be rude depending on context. Common collocations include "calar a boca" (shut one's mouth) and "ficar calado/a" (stay quiet).