callado
“callado” means “quiet” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
quiet, reserved
Also: silent, shy
📝 In Action
Mi hermana es muy callada en clase, pero habla mucho en casa.
A2My sister is very quiet/reserved in class, but she talks a lot at home.
El bosque estaba callado, solo se escuchaban los pájaros.
B1The forest was silent; only the birds could be heard.
Se quedó callado cuando le preguntaron por el dinero.
B2He remained silent when they asked him about the money.
kept quiet, silenced
📝 In Action
El director ha callado todas las protestas.
B2The director has silenced all the protests.
Hemos callado la verdad para no herir a nadie.
B1We have kept quiet about the truth so as not to hurt anyone.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: callado
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence uses 'callado' to describe a permanent personality trait?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes directly from the Latin verb *callāre*, which originally meant 'to call out' or 'to proclaim.' Over time, its meaning shifted, possibly influenced by other words related to silence, to mean the opposite: 'to be silent' or 'to silence.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How is 'callado' related to 'calle' (street)?
They are not related! 'Callado' comes from the verb 'callar' (to be silent). 'Calle' (street) comes from a different Latin root (*callis*), meaning a path or track. They sound similar but have different origins and meanings.
Can I use 'callado' to describe a book or a TV show?
Not usually. 'Callado' is best used for people or places. For objects, you would typically use 'silencioso' (silent) or 'mudo' (mute/silent, especially for films).