Calla vs callate

Question

I think they both are be quiet, but the second is more forceful. ¿Me entiendes?

Answer 1

All interpretations so far are correct.

"Cállate" only has one interpretation: imperative of "callar", therefore "shut up!". Not very nice.

"Calla" offers more subtleties depending on context.

"El trueno suena y el perro calla" - "Thunder rolls and the dog goes quiet".

"La niña llora calladamente" - "The girl cries quietly".

"Por favor calla un momento" - "Please be quiet for a bit".

"¿Por qué no te callas?" - "Why don't you shut up?".

Answer 2

I would agree that "Calla"means that he/she/it/usted stays quiet. It's the third person conjugation of "callar."

However, in the dictionary we have both ¡cállate! and ¡calla! for "Shut up!"

I hear parents scream ¡cállate! at their kids all the time.

yes, can both be used, calla or cállate - 00494d19, May 12, 2010

Answer 3

calla is shut up - unvoice
eg. El señor calla mientras viaja

callate is imperative form of verb callar:

callate estoy estudiando!