cállate
“cállate” means “Be quiet” in Spanish (General, neutral command.).
📝 In Action
¡Cállate, por favor! El bebé está durmiendo.
A2Be quiet, please! The baby is sleeping.
Estábamos en el cine y el hombre de atrás no paraba de hablar, así que le dije: «¡Cállate!».
B1We were at the movies and the man behind us wouldn't stop talking, so I told him: 'Shut up!'
—¡Gané la lotería! —Ay, cállate, no te creo.
B1—I won the lottery! —Oh, hush, I don't believe you.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
Translate to Spanish
Words that translate to "cállate" in Spanish:
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cállate
Question 1 of 2
How would you tell a friend 'Don't be quiet!' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
Comes from the verb 'callar', which is from the Vulgar Latin *callāre*, meaning 'to be quiet' or 'to lower'. The '-te' part is attached to the end and comes from the Latin word *tē*, meaning 'you'.
First recorded: The base verb 'callar' has been used since the 12th century.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'cállate' always rude?
Not always, but it has a high potential to be. Its meaning depends heavily on tone of voice and context. Between close friends, it can be a playful 'oh, stop it!'. But with anyone else, or with an angry tone, it's a very direct and often rude 'shut up!'.
What's the difference between 'cállate' and 'cállese'?
'Cállate' is the informal command you use with 'tú' (friends, family, people your age). 'Cállese' is the formal command you use with 'usted' (strangers, older people, in professional settings). Using the wrong one can sound disrespectful.
Why does the negative form 'no te calles' look so different?
This is a key rule in Spanish grammar. Positive commands often have a unique form (like 'calla'), and pronouns get attached to the end. Negative commands use a different verb form (the present subjunctive, 'calles') and the pronoun always goes before the verb.