Cállate ya
/kaʝate ʝa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "shut up already" is translated into Spanish as Cállate ya.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the reflexive verb callarse (to shut oneself up) in the imperative form and the adverb ya (already/now).
Which one should you use?
While Cállate is a simple command to shut up, Cállate ya adds an element of impatience or frustration, similar to the English "already".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Cállate ya is highly informal and can be perceived as rude or aggressive depending on your tone of voice.
How does it change in a sentence?
To address more than one person, the reflexive pronoun and verb change from the singular cállate to the plural cállense in the phrase Cállense ya.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaʝate ʝa/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the imperative Cállate is often accompanied by a finger pressed to the lips, but in other cultures, a sharp hand gesture toward the door may accompany a request for silence.
- The Italian word già and the French déjà are cousins to the Spanish ya, showing how the concept of 'already' is a shared Romance linguistic pillar.
- The reflexive nature of callarse implies that one is 'shutting oneself up', suggesting that silence is something a person must actively impose upon themselves.
Examples in context
- Por favor, cállate ya.Please, shut up already.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use Cállate ya with a polite request.Tatoeba #7308234 by arh, translation #10102350 by espamatics
- ¡Cállate ya, que no me dejas hablar!Shut up already, you're not letting me speak!
- Cállate ya, que me duele la cabeza.Shut up already, my head hurts.
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are arguing loudly in the living room.
- Elena¡Alejandro, cállate ya!Alejandro, shut up already!
- Alejandro¡Pero si solo estoy diciendo la verdad!But I'm only telling the truth!
- ElenaNo quiero escucharte más.I don't want to hear you anymore.
- AlejandroEstá bien, me callo.Fine, I'll be quiet.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
