Inklingo

How to Say "calm down!" in Spanish

English → Spanish

tranquilo

tran-KEE-lohtɾaŋ'kilo

InterjectionA2Informal
Use this when reassuring someone who is upset, worried, or overreacting to a situation.
A kind person gently placing a reassuring hand on the shoulder of a second person who looks visibly worried or stressed.

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.

calma

KAL-mahˈkalma

VerbB1Informal
This is a direct command, often used when telling someone to stop being agitated or noisy.
A large, gentle hand softly petting a small, slightly trembling kitten until it relaxes and closes its eyes, showing the action of soothing.

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'.

quieta

KYEH-tahˈkje.ta

InterjectionA2Informal
Use this to tell someone, or an animal, to stop moving or to hold still, often when they are restless or agitated.
A young girl standing with her hand raised, palm forward, commanding a small, fluffy brown kitten to stop. The kitten has paused mid-pounce.

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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