calle
“calle” means “street” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
street
Also: road, lane
📝 In Action
Mi casa está en la calle Principal.
A1My house is on Main Street.
Hay mucho tráfico en esta calle.
A1There is a lot of traffic on this street.
Los niños están jugando en la calle.
A2The children are playing in the street.
be quiet
Also: shut up
📝 In Action
Señor, ¡calle un momento!
A2Sir, be quiet for a moment!
No quiero que usted se calle. Su opinión es importante.
B1I don't want you to be quiet. Your opinion is important.
Espero que mi hermano se calle durante la película.
B1I hope my brother keeps quiet during the movie.
Indicative
Present
Imperfect
Preterite
Subjunctive
Present Subjunctive
Imperfect Subjunctive
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: calle
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'calle' correctly to mean a street?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The noun 'calle' comes from the Latin word 'callis', which meant a 'stony footpath' or 'track'. Over time, as towns grew, it came to mean the paved paths between houses.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'calle' feminine if it ends in '-e'?
While many Spanish nouns ending in '-o' are masculine and '-a' are feminine, there are many exceptions! 'Calle' is one of several common words ending in '-e' that are feminine. Others include 'noche' (night), 'leche' (milk), and 'gente' (people). You just have to learn them as you go!
What's the difference between 'calle' and 'avenida'?
Generally, an 'avenida' is a bigger, wider street, often with trees and multiple lanes of traffic, like an 'avenue' in English. A 'calle' is a standard street. Think of an 'avenida' as a main artery and a 'calle' as a regular vein in the city.
Is it always rude to say '¡Calle!'?
Not always, but it's very direct. In a classroom, a teacher might say it to quiet down students, and it's understood as a firm instruction. But between equals, it can definitely sound like 'Shut up!'. It's safer to use more polite phrases if you're not sure.