cállate
/ˈkaʝate/
The English phrase 'pipe down' is translated into Spanish as cállate.
The phrase is used to tell someone to stop being noisy. While 'pipe down' can sometimes function as a suggestion to lower one's volume, cállate is a direct command to stop talking and is often perceived as rude or aggressive.
Meaning: To refrain from being noisy (verb)
Which one should you use?
cállate is a direct command to stop talking, similar to 'shut up'. In contrast, if you wish to ask for silence more politely without being rude, it is better to use silencio or por favor, silencio.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cállate is an informal way to say pipe down. For a formal way to say pipe down, use Haga silencio. If you want to be polite and avoid rudeness, use silencio or por favor, silencio.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, you can use the expression Haz el favor de quedarte callado to ask for silence.
How does it change in a sentence?
To tell a group of people to pipe down, use the plural form cállense instead of cállate.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate/
Did you know?
- The word callado is used in the common idiom en boca cerrada no entran moscas, which literally means 'flies do not enter a closed mouth'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, the word callar (to be quiet) is often paired with a finger to the lips, a gesture that is considered extremely patronizing or even an insult to an adult's dignity.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, saying ¡Cállate la boca! adds 'the mouth' to the command, which intensifies the rudeness and can be seen as a significant verbal provocation.
Examples in context
- Por favor, haga silencio en la bibliotecaPlease, be quiet in the library
- Oye, ¡calla un momento! Estoy intentando concentrarmeHey, be quiet for a moment! I'm trying to concentrate
- ¡Cállate ya! No puedo escuchar lo que están diciendo en la películaShut up already! I can't hear what they're saying in the movie
- En México, puedes decirle a alguien "¡Bájale el volumen!" para pedirle que se calmeIn Mexico, you can tell someone "Lower the volume!" to ask them to calm down
- En España, puedes emplear la expresión "Haz el favor de quedarte callado" para pedir silencioIn Spain, you can use the expression "Do me the favor of staying quiet" to ask for silence
- Cállate, que no puedo dormir.Pipe down, I can't sleep.
- ¡Cállate un momento, por favor!Pipe down for a moment, please!
- Cállate, que estoy hablando por teléfono.Pipe down, I'm talking on the phone.
Example conversation
Alejandro and Lucía are studying in a quiet library.
- AlejandroLucía, cállate un poco.Lucía, pipe down a bit.
- LucíaLo siento, no me di cuenta.I'm sorry, I didn't realize.
- AlejandroLa gente nos está mirando.People are looking at us.
- LucíaEstá bien, guardaré silencio.Okay, I'll be quiet.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry cállate, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
