balẹ̀
To calm down in Yoruba is balẹ̀.
The phrase balẹ̀ is used both to tell someone to stop being angry and to describe a situation or person becoming peaceful.
Meaning: To become less excited (verb)
Did you know?
- The word balẹ̀ literally combines the verb ba and the word ilẹ̀, which means 'ground'. Telling someone to calm down is conceptually telling them to 'settle on the ground'.
- While balẹ̀ is used for calming down, Yoruba has a distinct concept of ìtùnú, which describes the specific act of bringing comfort to someone who is grieving.
- In some contexts, balẹ̀ can be used to describe a physical object settling or a storm subsiding, showing that the language treats human emotion and nature similarly.
Examples in context
- Ó yẹ kí o balẹ̀.You should calm down.
- Ṣé o ti balẹ̀?Have you calmed down?
Example conversation
Femi is acting very agitated about a lost item.
- FolakeFemi, jọ̀wọ́, balẹ̀.Femi, please, calm down.
- FemiMi ò lè balẹ̀!I cannot calm down!
- FolakeṢé o ti balẹ̀ báyìí?Have you calmed down now?
- FemiBẹ́ẹ̀ ni, mo ti balẹ̀.Yes, I have calmed down.
