Cala-te
informal, rude
In Portugal the usual way to say "shut up" is Cala-te. The stronger Cala a boca! means "shut your mouth" and is quite rude. It is also called Silêncio and Cala a boca.
Meaning: rude order to be quiet (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | Note |
|---|---|
| Cala-te | informal, rude |
| Silêncio | neutral |
| Cala a boca | very rude |
| Cale-se | formal, rude |
To a person you address formally, the order is Cale-se!, which is still harsh. A neutral request to be quiet is Silêncio, por favor.
How does it change in a sentence?
Cala-te comes from the reflexive verb calar-se. The te is attached with a hyphen in Portugal.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid these phrases with people you do not know well. A polite option is Pode falar mais baixo, por favor?
Did you know?
- The reflexive verb calar-se means "to become silent", so Cala-te literally tells someone to silence themselves.
Examples in context
- Cala-te, estou a trabalhar!Shut up, I am working!
- Silêncio, o bebé está a dormir.Silence, the baby is sleeping.
- Podem falar mais baixo, por favor?Could you speak more quietly, please?
Example conversation
Tiago asks his noisy brother Rui to be quiet while he studies in Porto.
- TiagoRui, cala-te! Estou a estudar.Rui, shut up! I am studying.
- RuiDesculpa. Falo mais baixo.Sorry. I will talk more quietly.
- TiagoObrigado.Thanks.
