How to Say Shut Up in Spanish
How do you say shut up in Spanish? Say 'Cállate' (KAH-yah-teh). Learn polite vs. rude versions, formal forms, plurals and regional slang with pronunciation.
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Quick answer
To say shut up in Spanish, say 'Cállate' (KAH-yah-teh) to one person informally. It literally means 'quiet yourself' and ranges from playful to harsh depending on tone. A softer version is 'Cállate, por favor' (please be quiet); the formal form is 'Cállese' (KAH-yeh-seh).
Cállate
/KAH-yah-teh/ — Spanish
How to Say Shut Up in Spanish
“Shut up” is one of those phrases that swings from playful to outright rude depending on who says it and how. In Spanish the core word is Cállate, but Spanish gives you precise control through formal/informal forms, singular/plural, and softer alternatives — so you can match the exact tone you intend.
The Core Phrase: Cállate
Cállate — pronounced KAH-yah-teh
It is the informal command (using tú) telling one person to be quiet. It literally means “quiet yourself,” built from the verb callar (to be silent) plus the reflexive ending -te.
Between friends and family it can be perfectly casual — even affectionate teasing. Said with a hard edge, it’s blunt and dismissive, just like the English “shut up.”
Copy the Phrase
The Spanish way to say shut up is Cállate (KAH-yah-teh).
Forms by Politeness & Number
Spanish changes the command based on who you’re addressing:
| Spanish | Pronunciation | Who / Register |
|---|---|---|
| Cállate | KAH-yah-teh | One person, informal (tú) |
| Cállese | KAH-yeh-seh | One person, formal (usted) |
| Cállate, por favor | KAH-yah-teh por fah-VOR | One person, polite (“please be quiet”) |
| Cállense | KAH-yen-seh | A group, informal/formal |
| Cállate la boca | KAH-yah-teh lah BOH-kah | Harsher — “shut your mouth” |
| Silencio | see-LEN-syoh | Neutral “silence” / “quiet” |
| Cierra el pico | SYEH-rrah el PEE-koh | Slang — “zip it” (lit. close your beak) |
Polite vs. Rude
Register matters a lot here:
- Gentle / polite: Silencio, por favor (silence, please), ¿Te puedes callar? (can you be quiet?), Cállate, porfa (casual “please”).
- Neutral / casual: Cállate among friends, often joking.
- Rude / aggressive: Cállate la boca, Cierra la boca, or ¡Cállate ya! (shut up already!).
If you want to ask for quiet without offending anyone — say, in a meeting or classroom — skip cállate entirely and use Silencio, por favor or ¿Pueden hacer silencio? (Can you all be quiet?).
Pronunciation Tips
- The double LL: In most of Latin America and Spain, ll sounds like English “y,” so cállate = “KAH-yah-teh.” In Argentina and Uruguay (rioplatense), it sounds like “sh/zh,” giving “KAH-shah-teh.”
- The accent mark: The á in Cállate tells you the stress falls on the first syllable — CÁ-lla-te.
- Clean vowels: Keep each vowel short and pure.
Regional Slang & Cultural Notes
Across the Spanish-speaking world you’ll hear colorful variants:
- Mexico: Cállate el hocico (very rude), Ya cállate.
- Spain: Cierra el pico, Calla la boca, or simply ¡Calla! (KAH-yah).
- Argentina: Callate (no accent written, said “ka-SHA-te”).
A cultural note: in many Spanish-speaking households cállate directed at an adult or elder is considered disrespectful, while it’s common and unremarkable between siblings or close friends. As always, tone, relationship, and context decide whether it lands as teasing or as an insult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say shut up in Spanish?
The most common way is 'Cállate' (KAH-yah-teh), the informal command to one person. It literally means 'quiet yourself.' Add 'por favor' to soften it, or use 'Cállense' (KAH-yen-seh) when telling more than one person to be quiet.
How do you pronounce Cállate?
It's pronounced 'KAH-yah-teh.' The double 'll' is a 'y' sound in most of Latin America (so 'cá-ya-te'), or a soft 'j/zh' sound in Argentina ('cá-sha-te'). Stress falls on the first syllable, marked by the accent: CÁ-lla-te.
Is Cállate rude in Spanish?
It depends entirely on tone. Said gently between friends it's casual and harmless; said sharply it's blunt and can be rude. To stay polite, say 'Cállate, por favor' or use the gentler 'Silencio' (silence) or 'Shhh.' Avoid 'Cállate la boca' unless you mean to be harsh.
What does Cállate literally mean?
'Cállate' comes from the verb 'callar' (to be quiet / to silence) plus the reflexive '-te,' so it literally means 'quiet yourself' or 'silence yourself.' The intensified phrase 'Cállate la boca' literally means 'shut your mouth.'
How do you say shut up formally or to a group in Spanish?
Formally to one person (using usted), say 'Cállese' (KAH-yeh-seh). To a group, say 'Cállense' (KAH-yen-seh). A neutral, less personal way to ask for quiet is 'Silencio, por favor' (silence, please) — ideal for classrooms or public settings.