calmo
/ˈkal.mo/
The Italian word for calm is calmo.
The adjective calmo is used to describe someone or something that is free from anger and anxiety.
Meaning: free from anger and anxiety (adj)
Which one should you use?
While calmo describes a state of being or a physical condition (like the sea), tranquillo is often used more broadly to describe a person's temperament or a quiet atmosphere.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, so the feminine form is calma. The masculine plural form of the adjective is calmi. The feminine plural form of the adjective is calme. To express the action of 'calming down', use the reflexive verb calmarsi.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /ˈkal.mo/. It has 2 syllables, and the stress is on 1 of 2.
Did you know?
- The Italian calmo shares a surprising ancestral link with the word for 'reed' or 'cane', stemming from the Latin calamus.
- While calmo describes a state, Italians often use tranquillo as a conversational filler or a way to say 'don't worry about it' in response to an apology.
- To describe a 'calm' sea, Italians might use mare calmo, but to describe the lack of wind, they specifically use the term bonaccia.
Examples in context
- Il mare era calmo.The sea was calm.This sentence shows how to describe the state of the sea using calmo.Tatoeba #2769832 by Guybrush88, translation #2769830 by CK
- Tom è molto calmo.Tom is very calm.This sentence illustrates using calmo to describe a person.Tatoeba #2904560 by Guybrush88, translation #1476454 by Spamster
- Sii calmo e basta.Just be calm.This sentence uses calmo in an imperative command to be calm.Tatoeba #3537254 by Guybrush88, translation #2249389 by CK
- Dovresti stare calmo/a nonostante la situazione difficile.You should stay calm despite the difficult situation.
- Sono tranquillo/a perché ho fiducia in me stesso/a.I'm calm because I have confidence in myself.
- Rimaniamo sereni nonostante i problemi che ci circondano.Let's stay calm despite the problems surrounding us.
- Mantieni la calma anche se le cose sembrano fuori controllo.Keep calm even if things seem out of control.
- Conserva la serenità per affrontare con saggezza questa situazione.Retain serenity to deal with this situation wisely.
- Puoi stare tranquillo/a, tutto andrà bene.You can stay calm, everything will be alright.
- Sono rilassato/a perché so come gestire queste situazioni.I'm calm because I know how to handle these situations.
- Mantieni la calma interiore anche quando le cose sembrano difficili.Maintain inner calm even when things seem tough.
- 89 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Matteo are discussing a stressful situation at work.
- MartinaPerché sei così agitato, Matteo?Why are you so agitated, Matteo?
- MatteoHo troppe cose da fare oggi!I have too many things to do today!
- MartinaResta calmo e organizza il lavoro.Stay calm and organize the work.
- MatteoHai ragione, cercherò di essere più calmo.You are right, I will try to be calmer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “calm” translations and entries calmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calmo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
