tienes que callarte
/tjenes ke kaʝaɾte/from spelling rules
The English phrase "you need to be quiet" is translated into Spanish as tienes que callarte.
This phrase is used as a command or request to tell someone to stop talking.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase tienes que callarte breaks down into tienes que (you have to) and the reflexive verb callarse (to shut oneself up).
Which one should you use?
While tienes que callarte is a direct way to express the need for silence, it can sound quite blunt or even rude depending on your tone of voice. For a much shorter, more forceful and more impolite option, you can use the imperative ¡Cállate!, which means "Shut up!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The form tienes que callarte uses the informal singular tú conjugation and is used when speaking to one person you know well. To address one person more formally, use the singular tiene que callarse. If you are telling a group of people to be quiet, use the plural form tienen que callarse.
Did you know?
- The concept of silence in Spanish is often split between silencio, which refers to the absence of noise, and callar, which refers specifically to the human act of stopping speech.
- The word callar can describe not just the act of being quiet, but also the act of keeping a secret or suppressing information.
- The Spanish word que is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'who'.
Examples in context
- Disculpe, señor, pero necesita usted hacer silencio.Excuse me, sir, but you need to be quiet.
- ¿Sería tan amable de guardar silencio, por favor?Would you be so kind as to keep quiet, please?
- Oye, amigo, necesitas hacer silencio.Hey, mate, you need to be quiet.
- Por favor, cállate mientras estoy hablando por teléfono.Please, be quiet while I'm on the phone.
- Haz el favor y guarda silencio, ¿vale?Do me a favor and keep quiet, okay?
- Tienes que callarte ahora mismo.You need to be quiet right now.
- Si quieres ver la película, tienes que callarte.If you want to watch the movie, you need to be quiet.
- Daniel, tienes que callarte porque el bebé duerme.Daniel, you need to be quiet because the baby is sleeping.
Example conversation
In a quiet library, Elena is trying to study.
- Daniel¡Elena, por favor, tienes que callarte!Elena, please, you need to be quiet!
- ElenaLo siento, Daniel, no me di cuenta.I'm sorry, Daniel, I didn't realize.
- DanielEstamos en la biblioteca y hay mucha gente.We are in the library and there are many people.
- ElenaTienes razón, voy a guardar silencio.You're right, I will be silent.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries que, CC BY-SA 4.0.
