cállate
/ˈkaʝate/
The Spanish phrase for "be quiet" is cállate.
Cállate is an imperative used to tell someone to stop talking. In English, it often translates more bluntly to "shut up". If you wish to ask for silence more generally, you can use the word Silencio, which means "silence".
What does it mean word for word?
Cállate is a combination of the reflexive verb callarse (to be quiet or to shut up) and the pronoun te (yourself), meaning "shut yourself up".
Which one should you use?
While it can be used to mean "be quiet", cállate is often perceived as a blunt or rude command, similar to the English "shut up".
How does it change in a sentence?
To tell a group of people to be quiet, use the plural form cállense.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate/
Did you know?
- In certain poetic contexts, callar is used as a metaphor for death, representing the 'eternal silence' of the soul.
- In many Latin American countries, using cállate with an elder or a stranger is considered a significant social transgression, much harsher than 'be quiet' in English.
- To be even more polite than using silencio, Spanish speakers often use the phrase guardar silencio, which literally means 'to keep or save silence'.
Examples in context
- Haz el favor y cállate.Just please be quiet.This sentence shows how to use cállate when making a request.Tatoeba #4554641 by swyter, translation #3410846 by CK
- Cuando hable, ¡cállate y escucha!When I speak, you be quiet and listen!This sentence uses cállate to give a command to listen.Tatoeba #3276697 by cueyayotl, translation #796128 by awynands
- Por favor cállate y déjame terminar.Please be quiet and let me finish.This sentence uses cállate to ask someone to stop talking so you can finish.Tatoeba #4776772 by alegarvid, translation #4015937 by CK
- Durante la conferencia, por favor, guarden silencio.During the conference, please be quiet.
- ¡Cállate! Estoy tratando de concentrarme en mi tarea.Shut up! I'm trying to focus on my homework.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro are trying to study in a library.
- LucíaAlejandro, cállate un momento.Alejandro, be quiet for a moment.
- AlejandroLo siento, Lucía, no quería interrumpir.I'm sorry, Lucía, I didn't want to interrupt.
- LucíaNecesito concentrarme en este libro.I need to concentrate on this book.
- AlejandroEstá bien, no diré nada más.Okay, I won't say anything else.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cállate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
