callada

ka-YAH-dah

quiet?describing a person's personality or a state of being,silent?describing an environment or a lack of noise

Also:reserved?describing someone who doesn't talk much,hushed?describing a low-volume atmosphere

📝 In Action

Mi hermana es muy callada cuando conoce a gente nueva.

My sister is very quiet when she meets new people.

La biblioteca estaba totalmente callada esta mañana.

The library was totally silent this morning.

Prefiero una vida callada en el campo.

I prefer a quiet life in the countryside.

dar la callada por respuesta – to choose not to reply to a question or challenge

This word ends in -a because it describes feminine nouns like 'niña' or 'calle'. If you describe a man, you must use 'callado'.

Mistake: "Él es muy callada."

Correction: Say 'Él es muy callado'. Use the -a ending only for women or feminine objects.

Use 'ser callada' if someone is naturally shy, but use 'estar callada' if they are just being quiet at this moment.

Question 1 of 2

How would you say 'The girl is very quiet'?

What is the difference between 'callada' and 'silenciosa'?

'Callada' is most often used for people who don't talk much. 'Silenciosa' is usually used for machines, objects, or rooms that don't make any noise.

Can I use 'callada' for a group of people?

Only if the group is entirely female. If there is at least one male in the group, you must use the masculine plural 'callados'.