Shut up
A polite way to ask for quiet, literally 'Silence, please'. Use this in classrooms, meetings, or any formal situation.
Means 'Keep silent'. It's a formal command, often used in places like libraries or hospitals.
Means 'That's enough'. Use this to stop someone from talking or complaining, without being as direct as 'cállate'.
The universal sound for 'be quiet'. It's informal and understood everywhere.
Shut up! I'm talking on the phone.
Teacher: Children, silence, please. The class is going to start.
Please, keep silent in the library.
That's enough complaining. I don't want to hear anymore.
'Cállate' is understood everywhere but is considered very rude and aggressive. Its intensity is much stronger than the English 'shut up'. It should only be used with people you know very well and in very informal, often heated, situations.
In Spain, 'cállate' is used for the informal 'tú'. For a group of friends, they use the 'vosotros' form: 'callaos'.
The pronunciation changes due to 'yeísmo'. It's pronounced 'cah-SHAH-teh'. The meaning and rude connotation are the same.
Very common but very strong. It's often intensified by adding 'ya' before it: '¡Ya cállate!' or adding 'la boca' after: '¡Cállate la boca!' (Shut your mouth!).
Using 'cállate' too casually. In Spanish, 'cállate' is much stronger and ruder than 'shut up' can be in English. Using it with strangers or in formal settings is highly offensive. It is safer to use 'silencio, por favor'.
Translating 'shut your mouth' literally. Saying 'cierra tu boca' is incorrect and sounds unnatural. The correct, though very aggressive, phrase is 'cállate la boca'.
Using the wrong form for formal address. 'Cállate' is the informal 'tú' command. When speaking to someone you'd address as 'usted' (formally), the correct command is 'cállese'. For a group ('ustedes'), it's 'cállense'.
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