Callarse Conjugation in Spanish
callarse means "to be quiet" in English, and it comes up when people talk about class during the exam, the meeting out of respect, front of his grandmother at dinner and when the phone rings. This page gives you the complete conjugation of callarse in every tense and mood — present, preterite, imperfect, future, conditional, the four perfect tenses, both subjunctive tenses and the imperative — with all six persons, plus the gerund and the past participle. Every form below comes from VerbFlow's verified conjugation tables, so you can trust the accents and the spelling changes. callarse is a Reflexive regular -ar verb, and the notes under each tense explain exactly where it follows the rules and where it breaks them. To hear it in a real sentence: Cada día, yo me callo en clase durante el examen. — "Every day, I be quiet in class during the exam." Work through the tables, read the notes, then test yourself with the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: callarse
- English: to be quiet
- Verb type: Reflexive regular -ar verb
- Gerund: callando
- Past participle: callado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all compound tenses use haber + callado)
- Reflexive: yes — always use it with the reflexive pronouns me, te, se, nos, os, se.
Full conjugation table
Every tense of callarse with all six persons. The gerund is callando and the past participle is callado.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | callo |
| tú | callas |
| él/ella/Ud. | calla |
| nosotros/as | callamos |
| vosotros/as | calláis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | callan |
Preterite (past)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | callé |
| tú | callaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | calló |
| nosotros/as | callamos |
| vosotros/as | callasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | callaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | callaba |
| tú | callabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | callaba |
| nosotros/as | callábamos |
| vosotros/as | callabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | callaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | callaré |
| tú | callarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | callará |
| nosotros/as | callaremos |
| vosotros/as | callaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | callarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | callaría |
| tú | callarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | callaría |
| nosotros/as | callaríamos |
| vosotros/as | callaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | callarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he callado |
| tú | has callado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha callado |
| nosotros/as | hemos callado |
| vosotros/as | habéis callado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han callado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había callado |
| tú | habías callado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había callado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos callado |
| vosotros/as | habíais callado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían callado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré callado |
| tú | habrás callado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá callado |
| nosotros/as | habremos callado |
| vosotros/as | habréis callado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán callado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría callado |
| tú | habrías callado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría callado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos callado |
| vosotros/as | habríais callado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían callado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | calle |
| tú | calles |
| él/ella/Ud. | calle |
| nosotros/as | callemos |
| vosotros/as | calléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | callen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | callara |
| tú | callaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | callara |
| nosotros/as | calláramos |
| vosotros/as | callarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | callaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | calla |
| él/ella/Ud. | calle |
| nosotros/as | callemos |
| vosotros/as | callad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | callen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | calles |
| él/ella/Ud. | calle |
| nosotros/as | callemos |
| vosotros/as | calléis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | callen |
Notes on each tense
A short note for every tense: when it is used, one example, and anything irregular about callarse in that tense.
Present indicative
The present indicative of callarse is used for routines, habits, general truths and things happening right now. Cada día, yo me callo en clase durante el examen. — "Every day, I be quiet in class during the exam." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Preterite (past)
The preterite (past) of callarse is used for one action that started and finished in the past. Ayer, yo me callé en la reunión por respeto. — "Yesterday, I was quiet in the meeting out of respect." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperfect
The imperfect of callarse is used for an ongoing or repeated action in the past, background description and habits that no longer happen. Antes, yo me callaba ante su abuela en la cena. — "In the past, I used to be quiet in front of his grandmother at dinner." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Future
The future of callarse is used for what will happen, plans and predictions. Mañana, nosotros nos callaremos cuando suena el teléfono. — "Tomorrow, we will be quiet when the phone rings." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Conditional
The conditional of callarse is used for what would happen, hypothetical situations and polite requests. Si pudieras, tú te callarías en clase durante el examen. — "If you could, you would be quiet in class during the exam." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Present perfect
The present perfect of callarse is used for an action completed in the recent past that still matters now, or life experience up to now. Yo me he callado en la reunión por respeto. — "I have been quiet in the meeting out of respect." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Pluperfect
The pluperfect of callarse is used for an action that had already happened before another past action. Antes de la fiesta, yo me había callado ante su abuela en la cena. — "Before the party, I had been quiet in front of his grandmother at dinner." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Future perfect
The future perfect of callarse is used for an action that will be finished by a point in the future. Para mañana, yo me habré callado cuando suena el teléfono. — "By tomorrow, I will have been quiet when the phone rings." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Conditional perfect
The conditional perfect of callarse is used for what would have happened if things had been different. Si hubiera podido, yo me habría callado en clase durante el examen. — "If I had been able to, I would have been quiet in class during the exam." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Present subjunctive
The present subjunctive of callarse is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and requests after expressions such as espero que. Espero que él se calle en la reunión por respeto. — "I hope that he/she is quiet in the meeting out of respect." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
The imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of callarse is used for the same subjunctive meanings in the past, and in si clauses about unreal situations. Si él se callara ante su abuela en la cena, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she was quiet in front of his grandmother at dinner, everything would turn out better." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Say each form aloud with the complement after it, so the person and the ending stay linked in your memory.
Imperative (affirmative)
The imperative (affirmative) of callarse is used for orders, instructions and invitations. ¡Que se calle cuando suena el teléfono! — "Let him/her be quiet when the phone rings!" For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Compare the forms with the present tense as you learn them, and the pattern will stay clear.
Imperative (negative)
The imperative (negative) of callarse is used for prohibitions and negative orders. No te calles en clase durante el examen. — "Do not be quiet in class during the exam." For callarse this tense follows the regular -ar pattern: the stem call- plus the usual endings. Learn the six forms in the table above, and practise them with the complements in the examples section below.
Examples: callarse in real sentences
Ten sentences with callarse, one for each main tense, each with its English translation. Read them aloud, then try changing the person and the complement to make your own versions.
- Cada día, yo me callo en clase durante el examen. — "Every day, I be quiet in class during the exam." This is the present tense, used for a habit.
- Ayer, yo me callé en la reunión por respeto. — "Yesterday, I was quiet in the meeting out of respect." This is the preterite, one finished action.
- Antes, yo me callaba ante su abuela en la cena. — "In the past, I used to be quiet in front of his grandmother at dinner." This is the imperfect, a repeated action in the past.
- Mañana, nosotros nos callaremos cuando suena el teléfono. — "Tomorrow, we will be quiet when the phone rings." This is the future tense, a plan for tomorrow.
- Si pudieras, tú te callarías en clase durante el examen. — "If you could, you would be quiet in class during the exam." This is the conditional, something that would happen.
- Yo me he callado en la reunión por respeto. — "I have been quiet in the meeting out of respect." This is the present perfect, an action with present relevance.
- Espero que él se calle ante su abuela en la cena. — "I hope that he/she is quiet in front of his grandmother at dinner." This is the present subjunctive, after espero que.
- Si él se callara cuando suena el teléfono, todo saldría mejor. — "If he/she was quiet when the phone rings, everything would turn out better." This is the imperfect subjunctive, in a si clause.
- ¡No te calles en clase durante el examen! — "Do not be quiet in class during the exam!" This is the imperative, a direct order or request.
- Ahora, Yo me estoy callando en la reunión por respeto. — "Now, I am being quiet in the meeting out of respect." This is the progressive, with estar and the gerund.
Common mistakes with callarse
The errors learners actually make with callarse, each with the wrong form, the right form, and why it is wrong.
Mistake 1: Forgetting the reflexive pronoun
- Wrong: Yo callo en clase durante el examen.
- Right: Yo me callo en clase durante el examen.
- Why: callarse is reflexive, so the pronoun is part of the verb: Yo me callo en clase durante el examen.. Without me the sentence is incomplete, and it sounds as if the action happens to someone else.
Mistake 2: Dropping the accent on the vosotros form
- Wrong: Vosotros os callais en clase durante el examen.
- Right: Vosotros os calláis en clase durante el examen.
- Why: The vosotros form calláis carries a written accent. Without it the word is misspelled, and in writing the accent is part of the form.
Mistake 3: Using the present tense for yesterday
- Wrong: Ayer, yo me callo en la reunión por respeto.
- Right: Ayer, yo me callé en la reunión por respeto.
- Why: Ayer means yesterday, so the action is finished and needs the preterite. The present tense is for habits and routines, not for yesterday: Ayer, yo me callé en la reunión por respeto. — "Yesterday, I was quiet in the meeting out of respect."
Mistake 4: Mixing up the gerund and the participle
- Wrong: Me estoy callado ante su abuela en la cena.
- Right: Me estoy callando ante su abuela en la cena.
- Why: After estar you need the gerund callando for the progressive. The participle callado goes with haber in the perfect tenses (me he callado), never after estar.
Mistake 5: Using the él form for nosotros
- Wrong: Nosotros nos calla en clase durante el examen.
- Right: Nosotros nos callamos en clase durante el examen.
- Why: The person and the ending must match: nosotros takes callamos, while calla belongs to él and ella. Check the person first, then choose the form.
Quiz: callarse conjugation
Test yourself with ten questions on callarse. The answers are explained, so read them even when you get a question right.
1. What is the yo form of callarse in the present tense?
- (a) callamos
- (b) callo
- (c) callas
- (d) calla
Answer: (b) callo. The yo form is callo. Check the person before you answer.
2. What is the tú form of callarse in the present tense?
- (a) callas
- (b) callo
- (c) calla
- (d) callamos
Answer: (a) callas. The tú form is callas. Check the person before you answer.
3. What is the él/ella form of callarse in the present tense?
- (a) callo
- (b) callas
- (c) callamos
- (d) calla
Answer: (d) calla. The él/ella form is calla. Check the person before you answer.
4. What is the nosotros form of callarse in the present tense?
- (a) callas
- (b) calla
- (c) callamos
- (d) callo
Answer: (c) callamos. The nosotros form is callamos. Check the person before you answer.
5. What is the ellos/ellas form of callarse in the present tense?
- (a) calla
- (b) callan
- (c) callo
- (d) callas
Answer: (b) callan. The ellos/ellas form is callan. Check the person before you answer.
6. What is the gerund of callarse?
- (a) callarse
- (b) callando
- (c) callado
- (d) callo
Answer: (b) callando. The gerund is callando, used for the progressive: me estoy callando.
7. What is the past participle of callarse?
- (a) callado
- (b) callando
- (c) callé
- (d) callarse
Answer: (a) callado. The past participle is callado, used with haber in all perfect tenses: me he callado.
8. Complete the sentence: Cada día, yo ___ en clase durante el examen.
- (a) callas
- (b) calla
- (c) callamos
- (d) callo
Answer: (d) callo. The sentence needs the yo form callo (Every day, I be quiet in class during the exam.)
9. What is the yo form of callarse in the preterite?
- (a) calló
- (b) callamos
- (c) callé
- (d) callaste
Answer: (c) callé. The yo preterite is callé. The preterite describes one finished action.
10. Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ ante su abuela en la cena.
- (a) calle
- (b) calles
- (c) callemos
- (d) calléis
Answer: (a) calle. After espero que Spanish needs the subjunctive, and the él form is calle.
Frequently asked questions about callarse
Is callarse regular?
Yes. callarse is a regular -ar verb: callo, callé, callaba, callaré. There are no spelling changes and no stem changes, so once you know the endings you can conjugate it in every tense.
What does callarse mean, and when do I use it?
callarse means "to be quiet" in English. Use it when you talk about class during the exam, the meeting out of respect, front of his grandmother at dinner and when the phone rings — for example: Yo me callo en clase durante el examen. — "I be quiet in class during the exam." It is a practical verb for everyday conversation, and it appears in all the tenses on this page.
How do you say it in a real sentence?
A natural sentence is: Yo me callo en clase durante el examen. — "I be quiet in class during the exam." Change the person using the table above, and change the complement to talk about your own life: the verb stays the same, only the ending changes.
Is callarse reflexive?
Yes. callarse is reflexive, so it always travels with a pronoun: me, te, se, nos, os, se. Yo me callo en clase durante el examen. — "I be quiet in class during the exam." If you drop the pronoun, the sentence is incomplete. The pronoun goes before the conjugated verb, and it attaches to the end of the gerund and of affirmative imperatives.
When do I use the present tense instead of the preterite with callarse?
Use the present for habits and routines: Yo me callo en clase durante el examen. — "I be quiet in class during the exam." Use the preterite for one finished action: Ayer, yo me callé en clase durante el examen. — "Yesterday, I was quiet in class during the exam." If the action happens regularly, choose the present; if it happened once and is finished, choose the preterite.