How to Say "calm down!" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “calm down!” is “tranquilo” — use this when reassuring someone who is upset, worried, or overreacting to a situation.
Use this when reassuring someone who is upset, worried, or overreacting to a situation.
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This is a direct command, often used when telling someone to stop being agitated or noisy.
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Use this to tell someone, or an animal, to stop moving or to hold still, often when they are restless or agitated.
Learn more →tran-KEE-lohtɾaŋ'kilo
Examples
¡Tranquilo! No es para tanto.
Calm down! It's not a big deal.
Mamá, se me cayó un vaso. —Tranquila, hija, no pasa nada.
Mom, I dropped a glass. —It's okay, dear, it's nothing.
¿Estás seguro de que podemos terminar a tiempo? —Sí, tranquilo, tenemos tiempo.
Are you sure we can finish on time? —Yeah, don't worry, we have time.
KAL-mahˈkalma
Examples
¡Calma! No hay por qué gritar.
Calm down! There's no reason to shout.
Mi padre siempre me calma cuando estoy nervioso.
My father always calms me down when I'm nervous.
Usted calma a los inversores con su confianza.
You (formal) calm the investors with your confidence.
Two Jobs, One Word
Notice how 'calma' can be a statement ('él calma' - he calms) or a command ('¡calma!' - calm down!). Context is key. If someone says it directly to you with urgency, it's a command.
Formal vs. Informal Commands
Mistake: “Saying '¡Calma!' to a stranger or someone you should show respect to, like a boss.”
Correction: Use '¡Calme!' for formal situations (for 'usted'). '¡Calma!' is for friends, family, and people you'd call 'tú'.
KYEH-tahˈkje.ta
Examples
¡Quieta, Luna! No te muevas.
Hold still, Luna! Don't move.
¡Quieta ahí! Necesito verte la cara.
Stay right there! I need to see your face.
Direct Command
When used alone as an exclamation, '¡Quieta!' is a short way of saying 'Stay still!' or 'Be still!' It is only used when addressing a female person or animal.
Choosing between tranquilízate and calma
Learners often confuse 'tranquilo' and 'calma'. Remember that 'tranquilo' is primarily for reassurance when someone is worried or upset, while 'calma' is a more direct command to stop agitated behavior or noise.
Related Translations
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