Which to use
“callar” and “calló” are a confusable Spanish pair: similar on the page, but distinct in meaning, check the gloss before you choose.
- #8,765
- “callar” frequency rank
- #33,468
- “calló” frequency rank
- 42233
- confusion score
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | callar | calló |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | No emitir ningún sonido vocal, también por medio de la voz y por escrito. | Tercera persona del singular (él, ella, ello; usted, 2.ª persona) del pretérito perfecto simple de indicativo de callar. |
Where the spellings diverge
Shared letters are muted; the letters that actually set callar and calló apart are highlighted. They share 4 letters in sequence, which is exactly why the eye skips the difference.
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
A purely visual mix-up. callar ([kaˈʝaɾ]) and calló ([kaˈʝo]) are said differently, so reading them aloud is the quickest way to catch the wrong one. On the page they stay close: they differ by 1 letter(s) in length. Our composite confusion score for this pair is 42233, derived from the frequency rank of both members and their visual similarity.
callar is recorded at frequency rank #8,765, classified as averb, pronounced [kaˈʝaɾ]. calló is at rank #33,468, tagged as averb, pronounced [kaˈʝo].
Glosses for this pair are partially populated in our dataset, but the full side-by-side definitions above should still guide you to the right choice.
With a confusion score of 42233, this pair ranks #149,386 of 323,831 scored Spanish confusable pairs - roughly mid-pack for confusability.
Orthographic DNA of callar vs calló
Shared letters: acl. Private to "callar": r. Private to "calló": ó.
"callar" · 6 letters · shape CVCCVC · "calló" · 5 letters · shape CVCCV
Known mistypes of this pair
- callar ← acllar · calalr · callarr · callra · ccallar · clalar
Frequency comparison
Frequently Asked Questions
Can "callar" and "calló" be used interchangeably?
Which is more common, "callar" or "calló"?
Remembering callar vs calló
The fastest way to pick the right one every time.
- Read both glosses above and match the meaning you intend, only context separates this pair.
- See each word in full, definition, IPA, etymology and its other confusables. Full “callar” entry
- Browse more pairs most likely to be confused. Most confusable