Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
Calm in Spanish: Tranquilo, Calma, Cálmate, and More
Tranquilo · adjective · trahn-KEE-loh
Calm in Spanish is most naturally expressed as tranquilo (masculine) or tranquila (feminine) when describing a person or situation. The noun form is calma (la calma), and to tell someone to calm down, you say cálmate (tú) or cálmese (usted). Tranquilo alone can function as a standalone reassurance, similar to saying it's all good.
Tranquilo is trahn-KEE-loh, with stress on the KEE. Calma is KAHL-mah. Cálmate is KAHL-mah-teh, stressed on the first syllable because it's an imperative with an attached pronoun.
Tranquilo, todo va a salir bien.
Calm down, everything will be fine.
Calm in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for calm, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| tranquilo | calm | trahn-KEE-loh | Default, widely understood |
| calma | calm | noun: calm, calmness | |
| calmado/a | calm | adjective: calmed, more formal | |
| cálmate | calm | calm down (tú imperative) | |
| sereno/a | calm | serene, literary or poetic |
How Native Speakers Use Tranquilo
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Reassuring someone
Tranquila, el vuelo no sale hasta las tres.
Relax, the flight doesn't leave until three.
Tranquila matches the feminine subject. Used alone, it's a warm, casual reassurance.
Describing a peaceful place
Este pueblo es muy tranquilo, casi no hay ruido.
This town is very calm, there's almost no noise.
Tranquilo works for places, atmospheres, and situations, not just people.
Telling someone to calm down
¡Cálmate! No es para tanto.
Calm down! It's not that big of a deal.
Cálmate is the tú imperative of calmarse. Use cálmese for the usted form.
Noun form: inner calm
Necesito un poco de calma después de esta semana.
I need a bit of calm after this week.
Calma is the noun: la calma. Mantener la calma means to keep calm.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Tranquilo
Forgetting gender agreement with tranquilo
Incorrect: Ella está tranquilo.
Correct: Ella está tranquila.
Tranquilo is masculine. When describing a woman or feminine noun, switch to tranquila. Plural forms: tranquilos (m.) and tranquilas (f.).
Saying calmo instead of tranquilo
Incorrect: Estoy muy calmo hoy.
Correct: Estoy muy tranquilo hoy.
Calmo exists in Spanish but sounds archaic or literary. In everyday speech, tranquilo is the overwhelmingly preferred adjective for calm.
Lock in Calm Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Tranquilo used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using tranquilo in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Tranquilo, todo va a salir bien. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Calm in Spanish
- How do you say calm in Spanish?
- The adjective is tranquilo (masculine) or tranquila (feminine). The noun is calma. To say calm down, use cálmate (informal) or cálmese (formal). Tranquilo alone works as a reassuring it's all good.
- What is the difference between tranquilo and calmado?
- Both mean calm, but tranquilo is far more common in everyday speech. Calmado implies someone has calmed down from a previous state of agitation (ya está calmado), while tranquilo can describe a naturally calm person or place.
- How do you say keep calm in Spanish?
- Keep calm is mantén la calma (tú) or mantenga la calma (usted). The popular phrase keep calm and carry on translates to mantén la calma y sigue adelante.