calles

KAH-yes (or KAH-yays)ˈka.ʎes

“calles” means “streets” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

streetsA1Noun

public thoroughfares

Learn more →

(that you) be silentB1Verb

present subjunctive form

Learn more →

streetsAlso: roads

NounfA1

Mexico

A colorful illustration showing a long, empty paved street lined with simple, stylized houses under a bright blue sky.

📝 In Action

Las calles de Madrid son muy bonitas.

The streets of Madrid are very beautiful.

¿Dónde están las mejores calles para comprar ropa?

Where are the best streets for buying clothes?

La policía patrullaba las calles desiertas en la noche.

The police patrolled the deserted streets at night.

Word Connections

Synonyms

vías (ways/routes)
avenidas (avenues)

Common Collocations

calles concurridas – busy streets
calles estrechas – narrow streets

Idioms & Expressions

quedarse en la calle – to become homeless or lose everything financially

(that you) be silentAlso: (that you) shut up

VerbB1regular ar

A simplified illustration of a face with a single index finger pressed vertically against the closed lips, indicating silence or shushing.

infinitivecallar

gerundcallando

past Participlecallado

📝 In Action

Espero que no calles la verdad por miedo.

I hope you don't silence (keep quiet about) the truth out of fear.

Mi madre quiere que te calles mientras hablan los invitados.

My mother wants you to be quiet while the guests are talking.

Si no calles ahora, perderemos el juego.

If you don't keep quiet now, we will lose the game.

Word Connections

Synonyms

silencies (you silence)
mutismos (silence/muteness)

Antonyms

hables (you talk)

Indicative

Present

yocallo

túcallas

él/ella/ustedcalla

nosotroscallamos

vosotroscalláis

ellos/ellas/ustedescallan

Imperfect

yocallaba

túcallabas

él/ella/ustedcallaba

nosotroscallábamos

vosotroscallabais

ellos/ellas/ustedescallaban

Preterite

yocallé

túcallaste

él/ella/ustedcalló

nosotroscallamos

vosotroscallasteis

ellos/ellas/ustedescallaron

Subjunctive

Present Subjunctive

yocalle

túcalles

él/ella/ustedcalle

nosotroscallemos

vosotroscalléis

ellos/ellas/ustedescallen

Imperfect Subjunctive

yocallara/callase

túcallaras/callases

él/ella/ustedcallara/callase

nosotroscalláramos/callásemos

vosotroscallarais/callaseis

ellos/ellas/ustedescallaran/callasen

View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "calles" in Spanish:

roads streets

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: calles

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'calles' as the plural of 'street'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family

calle(street (singular)) — Noun

callar(to be quiet/to silence) — Verb

callejero(street (adj.) / homeless person) — Adjective / Noun

🎵 Rhymes

salesmales

📚 Etymology

The noun 'calles' comes from the singular 'calle', which originated from the Latin word *callis*, meaning 'a narrow path' or 'track'. The verb form 'calles' comes from the infinitive 'callar', which ultimately comes from the Latin verb *callāre*, meaning 'to be silent'.

First recorded: Medieval Latin

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: calle (archaic)

💡 Master Spanish

Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if 'calles' means 'streets' or 'you be quiet'?

You can tell by the words surrounding it! If it uses 'las' or 'unas' before it (e.g., 'las calles'), it's the noun 'streets'. If it appears after a phrase like 'espero que...' (I hope that...) or 'no' in a command, it's the verb form 'you be quiet'.