Polite or Formal Settings
Say "guarda silencio" to politely tell someone to "be quiet." This Spanish phrase is perhaps closest to the English phrase "be quiet," and it's used in similar circumstances. It's a polite, formal, and non-aggressive way to tell someone to stop talking or making noise. "No más preguntas, sólo guarda silencio." (No more questions, just be quiet.) "Ahora guarda silencio y no te muevas." (Now keep quiet and don't move.) Add "por favor" to make it even more polite: "Guarda silencio, por favor, estoy en una reunión por Zoom." (Be quiet, please, I'm in a Zoom meeting.)
Use "¡Silencio!" to tell a group of people to be quiet. This is a good general, impersonal statement that you can use to tell a whole room to be quiet. It's appropriate whether you know the people you're talking to or not. You'll frequently hear it from a teacher telling their class to be quiet, or in similar settings. It can also be used to call a meeting to order. "¡Cuando salga de aquí, quiero silencio!" (When I walk out of here, I want silence.) "¡Quédense dónde están y silencio!" (Stay right where you are and keep quiet.) "¡Por favor señoras, silencio!" (Be quiet, please, ladies.)
Say "¡Cállese!" to tell strangers to be quiet. Even though the verb callar typically has a stronger meaning, using its usted form makes it more polite. This is an appropriate phrase to use if people you don't know are disturbing you in a public setting. For example, you might use it to shush people talking during a movie or a play. "Cállese, señora, por favor." (Please be quiet, ma'am.) "¡Cállese! ¿Qué le pasa?" (Be quiet! What's wrong with you?) ¡Todo el mundo, cállese!" (Everybody, be quiet!)
Casual Settings
Say "¡Cállate!" to quiet someone in most casual settings. This is perhaps the most common way to say "be quiet" in Spanish, although it's better translated as meaning "shut up" or "shut it." Although it's pretty common to hear, it's still a pretty informal phrase that you wouldn't want to say in an official or formal setting. It's usually used when there's some emotional reason that you want someone to stop talking. "No. Sólo siéntate y cállate." (No. Just sit down and be quiet.) "Ahora, cállate y presta atención." (Now, shut up and pay attention.) Adding "por favor" makes this a little more polite, although it's still a casual phrase that shouldn't be used in formal settings. For example, you might say, "Te quiero, cariño, pero cállate, por favor." (I love you, dear, but be quiet, please.)
Use "cierra la boca" to tell someone to shut up. In English, you might use phrases like "shut your mouth" or "shut it" to tell someone to stop talking. Depending on your tone and the person you're talking to, this phrase can be quite rude. But if you're just saying it to your friends in a joking way it's not a big deal. "Si no tienes nada interesante que decir, cierra la boca." (If you have nothing interesting to say, keep your mouth shut.) "Abre los oídos y cierra la boca." (Open your ears and shut your mouth.) "Cierra la boca por una vez." (Shut your mouth for once.)
Shush your friends with "chitón." This is considered similar to saying "shh" or "shush" in English, although it's not as widely used. It's only appropriate in the most casual settings when you're with friends your age or people you know really well—otherwise, it could be considered rude. "Chitón. Quiero oír esto." (Shhh. I want to hear this.) "Chitón, es un secreto." (Shhh, it's a secret.) "¡Chitón! El bebé está dormido." (Shhh! The baby is sleeping.)
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