Tranquila
feminine, gentle
To tell a girl to calm down, say Tranquila or Cálmate. Tranquila ends in -a because it describes a woman, and it sounds gentler than a command. It is also called Tranquilízate.
Meaning: request to relax (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | Note |
|---|---|
| Tranquila | feminine, gentle |
| Cálmate | informal |
| Tranquilízate | informal, stronger |
Which one should you use?
Tranquila alone means "relax, it's fine" and is the softest choice. Cálmate is a direct order and can sound sharp if the person is already upset.
How does it change in a sentence?
Cálmate and tranquilízate are informal commands for one person. With a woman you do not know well or an older woman, use the formal cálmese or tranquilícese.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying cálmate in the middle of an argument often makes things worse, in Spanish as in English. Add a warm word such as amor or tranquila, aquí estoy to soften it.
Did you know?
- The verb calmar comes from calma, and the reflexive calmarse means "to calm oneself", which is why the command ends in -te.
Examples in context
- Tranquila, todo va a salir bien.Calm down, everything will turn out fine.
- Cálmate y respira.Calm down and breathe.
- Tranquila, no pasa nada.Relax, it is no big deal.
Example conversation
Andrés helps his friend Marta who is nervous before an exam.
- AndrésMarta, tranquila. Respira hondo.Marta, calm down. Breathe deeply.
- MartaEs que estoy muy nerviosa.It is just that I am very nervous.
- AndrésEstudiaste mucho. Todo va a salir bien.You studied a lot. Everything will turn out fine.
