mantén la calma
/manten la kalma/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'be cool' can be translated into Spanish as mantén la calma.
This phrase is used to instruct someone to remain calm and composed, particularly during stressful or exciting situations.
Which one should you use?
While mantén la calma is a direct instruction to remain composed, it is more formal and literal than the English slang 'be cool', which can also mean 'to be fashionable' or 'to be a nice person'.
How does it change in a sentence?
To tell a group of people to 'be cool' or 'stay calm', use the plural imperative mantengan la calma.
Did you know?
- If you want to tell someone to 'keep their cool' specifically regarding their anger, you might use the phrase no pierdas los estribos, which literally means 'do not lose the stirrups'.
- In Spain, if someone is acting too intense, you might tell them no te rayes, which literally means 'do not scratch yourself' but functions like 'don't stress out'.
- The word calma shares a distant root with the English word 'caustic' because both originate from the Ancient Greek word καῦμα meaning 'burning heat'.
Examples in context
- Tienes razón, necesito ser cool y no preocuparme tanto.You're right, I need to be cool and not worry so much.
- Mantén la calma y respira profundo.Keep calm and breathe deeply.
- Mantén la calma durante el examen.Stay calm during the exam.
- Solo mantén la calma, todo saldrá bien.Just stay calm, everything will be fine.
Example conversation
Sofía is trying to comfort Javier before his big presentation.
- SofíaJavier, mantén la calma antes de empezar.Javier, stay calm before you start.
- JavierNo puedo, estoy muy nervioso.I can't, I am very nervous.
- SofíaConfía en ti, tú puedes hacerlo.Trust yourself, you can do it.
- JavierGracias, Sofía, lo intentaré.Thanks, Sofia, I will try.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calma, la, CC BY-SA 4.0.
