cállate, chico
/ˈkaʝate ˈt͡ʃiko/word by word
The English phrase "shut up, boy" is translated into Spanish as cállate, chico.
This phrase is a highly imperative command used to tell a male youth to stop talking. Depending on the tone used, it can be perceived as rude or condescending.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the informal imperative (tú) form of the verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate ˈtʃiko/
Did you know?
- The word chico is believed by some linguists to be a loanword from chiʼik in Yucatec Maya, a language spoken in Mexico and Central America.
- In Spanish, the verb callar can mean both 'to be quiet' and 'to keep a secret', which is why the same root is used for 'silence' and 'confidentiality'.
- In Spain, people often replace chico with chaval to give the phrase a more colloquial or street-level feeling.
Examples in context
- ¡Cállate, chico!Shut up, boy!
- ¡Calla, chaval!Shut up, kid!
- Cállate, chico, no quiero oírte.Shut up, boy, I don't want to hear you.
Example conversation
Elena is trying to study while Alejandro talks too much.
- AlejandroMira lo que encontré en el jardín.Look what I found in the garden.
- ElenaCállate, chico, necesito concentrarme.Shut up, boy, I need to concentrate.
- AlejandroPero es un insecto muy raro.But it is a very strange insect.
- ElenaNo me importa, sal de aquí.I don't care, get out of here.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cállate, chico) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries chico, CC BY-SA 4.0.
