cállate
/KA-ya-teh/
Quick Reference
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
Command + 'You' = One Word
In Spanish, to give a positive command to someone you call 'tú', you attach 'te' (you) directly to the end of the verb. So, 'calla' (the command 'be quiet') + 'te' becomes one word: 'cállate'.
Why the Accent Mark?
Adding 'te' to 'calla' makes the word longer. To keep the stress on the original syllable (CA-lla), we need to add an accent mark: 'cállate'. This is a common rule for commands with things attached to them.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Negative Commands Are Different
Mistake: "A common mistake is saying 'No cállate'."
Correction: The correct way is 'No te calles'. For negative commands, 'te' goes *before* the verb, and the verb ending changes. Positive: Cállate. Negative: No te calles.
⭐ Usage Tips
Watch Your Tone!
'Cállate' can sound as harsh as 'Shut up!' in English. With friends, a soft tone can make it playful, like 'Oh, hush'. But with strangers, elders, or in formal settings, it can be very disrespectful. For politeness, try 'Guarde silencio, por favor.'
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cállate
Question 1 of 2
How would you tell a friend 'Don't be quiet!' in Spanish?
📚 More Resources
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.