cállate, güero
/ˈkaʝate ˈɡweɾo/word by word
The English phrase "shut up, white boy" is translated into Spanish as cállate, güero.
This phrase is a rude command used to tell a light-skinned person to stop talking.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase is highly informal and can be perceived as aggressive or rude depending on the tone.
How does it change in a sentence?
To direct the phrase at a female, change the masculine güero to the feminine güera to say cállate, güera.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈkaʝate ˈɡweɾo/
Did you know?
- The term güero actually traces back to the idea of an 'empty egg' that failed to hatch properly. This concept of emptiness eventually evolved into a descriptor for skin color.
- While güero refers to light skin or hair, it is specifically associated with Mexican Spanish and is not used this way in Spain.
- Adding the diminutive suffix to create güerito can turn this rude command into a teasing or playful remark between friends.
Examples in context
- Cállate, güero.Shut up, white boy.
- ¡Ya cállate, güero!Shut up already, white boy!
- Solo cállate, güero, y escucha.Just shut up, white boy, and listen.
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are arguing during a game.
- Mateo¡Cállate, güero! No tienes razón.Shut up, white boy! You're not right.
- Lucía¡No me digas así, Mateo!Don't call me that, Mateo!
- MateoSolo deja de hablar.Just stop talking.
- LucíaEstá bien, ya no digo nada.Fine, I won't say anything anymore.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (cállate, güero) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries güero, CC BY-SA 4.0.
