cállese
“cállese” means “Be quiet” in Spanish (Formal command).
Be quiet, Shut upAlso: Hush
📝 In Action
Señora, cállese por favor, no puedo escuchar las noticias.
B1Ma'am, please be quiet, I can't hear the news.
El guardia gritó: '¡Cállese y muévase!'
B2The guard shouted: 'Shut up and move!'
Si no tiene nada bueno que decir, cállese.
B1If you have nothing good to say, be quiet.
Word Connections
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: cállese
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the equivalent of 'cállese' for a friend?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family
🎵 Rhymes
📚 Etymology
Comes from the verb *callar*, which evolved from the Latin verb *chalare*, meaning 'to keep quiet' or 'to cease.' The addition of *-se* (the reflexive pronoun) means 'to quiet oneself down.'
First recorded: Medieval Spanish (as *callar*)
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'cállese' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is there because the word is a combination of the command form (*calle*) and the pronoun (*se*). The stress needs to stay on the first syllable (CÁ-lle-se). If you didn't include the accent, the stress would incorrectly fall on the second syllable.
If 'cállese' uses the formal 'usted' form, why is it considered rude?
In Spanish, using the formal 'usted' simply indicates respect for distance or age, not necessarily politeness. The verb 'callar' is a very direct order, making it inherently harsh, regardless of the formality of the address. It's like saying 'Be silent, sir!' in English—it's still a demand.