cállate, hermano
/ˈkaʝate eɾˈmano/word by word
The English phrase "shut up, bro" is translated into Spanish as cállate, hermano.
This phrase is an informal command used to tell a male friend or peer to stop talking.
Which one should you use?
To be formal, you would use cállese, hermano, though addressing someone as "hermano" in a formal context is highly unusual.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase cállate, hermano is highly informal and should only be used among friends or peers.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Different regions use different slang for "bro": * In Spain, it is much more common to use cállate, tío to mean "shut up, dude/man". * In Mexico, cállate, güey is a very common colloquial way to say "shut up, dude/bro".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the imperative (command) form of the verb callarse specifically for the informal tú second-person singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate eɾˈmano/
Did you know?
- In Spain, the word tío literally means 'uncle', but in the phrase cállate, tío, it functions exactly like 'dude' or 'guy' and has no familial connection to the person being addressed.
- The word hermano is a distant relative of the English word 'germane'. Both stem from the Latin germānus, which originally described siblings born of the same parents.
- In Mexico, the word güey in cállate, güey is a linguistic chameleon that can be a term of endearment or a sharp insult based solely on tone.
Examples in context
- Cállate, tíoShut up, bro.
- ¡Cállate, güey!Shut up, dude!
- Cállate, hermano, estoy intentando estudiar.Shut up, bro, I am trying to study.
- Ya cállate, hermano, que me duele la cabeza.Shut up already, bro, my head hurts.
Example conversation
Two friends are arguing playfully about a movie.
- SofíaTú siempre crees que tienes la razón.You always think you are right.
- AlejandroEs que esta vez sí lo estoy.It's just that this time I actually am.
- SofíaCállate, hermano, que ya me cansaste.Shut up, bro, I'm tired of this now.
- AlejandroVale, no diré ni una palabra más.Okay, I won't say another word.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cállate, hermano) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries hermano, CC BY-SA 4.0.
