cállate, cabezón
The English phrase "shut up, big head" is translated into Spanish as cállate, cabezón.
What does it mean word for word?
cállate is the imperative form of callarse (to shut oneself up), and cabezón is derived from cabeza (head) with the suffix -ón which denotes largeness or excess.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase is informal and is typically used in a teasing, playful or mildly annoyed manner between friends or family members.
How does it change in a sentence?
If addressing a female, the noun cabezón changes to the feminine form cabezona. To address a group of people, the verb changes to the plural cállense and the noun to cabezones.
Did you know?
- While cabezón literally means 'big head', it is often used to describe someone who is stubborn or headstrong, as if their head is too large to be moved by other people's arguments.
- While cállate is a command, adding cabezón can transform the tone from a genuine rude command into a term of endearment used between siblings.
- In Spanish, using the word cabeza in various idioms often relates to intellect or ego, meaning a 'big head' can imply someone is arrogant or thinks they know everything.
Examples in context
- ¡Cierra el pico, cabezudo!Close your mouth, bighead!
- ¡Cállate, pinche cabeza de melón!Shut up, damn melon head!
- ¡Cállate, cabezón!Shut up, big head!
- Cállate, cabezón, que no te escucho.Shut up, big head, I can't hear you.
- ¡Cállate, cabezón! Deja de hablar tanto.Shut up, big head! Stop talking so much.
- No seas pesado y cállate, cabezón.Don't be annoying and shut up, big head.
Example conversation
Two friends are teasing each other about a mistake.
- MateoMira cómo lo hiciste, qué gracioso.Look how you did it, how funny.
- LucíaNo te rías de mí, Mateo.Don't laugh at me, Mateo.
- MateoEs que es verdad, eres un desastre.It's just true, you're a disaster.
- Lucía¡Cállate, cabezón!Shut up, big head!
