cállate, mamá
/ˈkaʝate maˈma/word by word
The English phrase "shut up, mom" is translated into Spanish as cállate, mamá.
This phrase is a rude command used to tell one's mother to stop talking.
Which one should you use?
You might encounter cállese, mamá. The latter uses the formal usted form, which would be more grammatically polite, though the command itself is still inherently rude.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase cállate, mamá is informal. Because it uses the tú imperative form, it is considered highly disrespectful when directed at a parent. For a milder way to ask your mother to stop talking, you can use Mamá, no hables.
How does it change in a sentence?
The use of the tú imperative form in cállate marks the phrase as informal.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate maˈma/
Did you know?
- While cállate is a command to be silent, the phrase ¡Calla! is often used as an exclamation of disbelief, similar to saying 'No way!' or 'You're kidding!' in English.
- Adding the diminutive mamita to this rude command, such as in cállate, mamita, does not soften the blow but actually increases the biting sarcasm.
- The word mamá was adapted into Spanish from the French word maman.
Examples in context
- ¡Cállate, mamá!Shut up, mom!
- ¡Cállate, mamá, ya te escuché!Shut up, mom, I already heard you!
- No quiero oírte, cállate, mamá.I don't want to hear you, shut up, mom.
Example conversation
Javier is angry and arguing with his mother in the living room.
- Javier¡Cállate, mamá, deja de gritar!Shut up, mom, stop yelling!
- Lucía¡No me hables así, Javier!Don't talk to me like that, Javier!
- Javier¡Es que no te callas!It's just that you won't shut up!
- Lucía¡Eres un maleducado!You are rude!
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cállate, mamá) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries mamá, CC BY-SA 4.0.
