What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the reflexive verb callarse (to shut oneself up) in the imperative form and the adverb ya (already/now). Literally, it means "shut yourself up already".
Which one should you use?
While cállate means "shut up", adding ya increases the sense of urgency and impatience, translating more accurately to "shut up now" or "shut up already".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
cállate ya is highly informal. In more formal situations, you might use Cállese ahora. to say "Shut up now.", or if you wish to be extremely polite and indirect, Le ruego que guarde silencio inmediatamente. which means "I kindly request that you remain silent immediately."
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes depending on who you are addressing. To tell more than one person to shut up immediately, use the plural imperative cállense ya. If you are addressing a single person using the formal usted form, the command changes to cállese ya.
How do you pronounce it?
/kaʝate ʝa/
Did you know?
- In some regions, if you say cállate with a rising intonation and a smile, it can be used as a slang expression of disbelief, similar to saying 'no way' or 'stop it' in English.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, using the command cállate can be seen as a significant escalation in a conflict, potentially leading to a physical confrontation if used with a stranger.
- The adverb ya in cállate ya shares a common ancestor with the French word déjà, which is why they both carry the sense of 'already'.
Examples in context
- ¡Cállate ahora! Estamos tratando de escuchar lo que dice JuanShut up now! We are trying to listen to what Juan is saying
- ¡Cállate ya, que me duele la cabeza!Shut up now, my head hurts!
- Por favor, cállate ya.Please, shut up now.
Example conversation
Javier and Sofía are arguing in the living room.
- JavierNo quiero escuchar más.I don't want to hear any more.
- SofíaPero tengo que explicarte esto.But I have to explain this to you.
- Javier¡Cállate ya, Sofía!Shut up now, Sofía!
- SofíaEstá bien, no diré nada.Fine, I won't say anything.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
