cálmate
/kalmate/from spelling rules
To say 'calm down' in Spanish, you use cálmate.
The phrase is used to tell someone to become less excited. You can also use the synonym tranquilízate to suggest someone relax or settle down. If you want to suggest someone take a deep breath to help them calm down, you can say respira profundo or respira hondo.
Meaning: To become less excited (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The word cálmate is composed of the imperative calma (calm) and the reflexive pronoun te (yourself), literally meaning 'calm yourself'.
Which one should you use?
cálmate is a direct command to calm down, whereas calmarse is the infinitive form used to describe the general act of calming down.
How does it change in a sentence?
cálmate is the informal singular imperative (command) form of the reflexive verb calmarse.
How do you pronounce it?
/kalmate/
Did you know?
- In some regions, people use the phrase bájale un cambio to tell someone to 'calm down', which is a metaphor similar to 'shifting down a gear' in a car.
- While cálmate is a direct command, using it with someone you do not know well can sound quite aggressive or condescending in many Spanish-speaking cultures.
- The word tranquilidad shares the same root as the English word 'tranquil', both tracing back to the Latin tranquillus, meaning 'quiet' or 'still'.
Examples in context
- Respira profundo y cálmate.Take a deep breath and calm down.This sentence is useful for practicing how to tell someone to take a deep breath and calm down using cálmate.Tatoeba #10286102 by Seael, translation #11069930 by Luornu
- Cálmate y explícamelo desde el principio.Calm down and explain it from the beginning.This sentence shows how to use cálmate when asking someone to explain something after calming down.Tatoeba #5451089 by Seael, translation #6075503 by mendel
- Cálmate.Calm down.This sentence is a simple example of using cálmate as a direct command.Tatoeba #566428 by Shishir, translation #435575 by CK
- Señor, tranquilícese, vamos a buscar una solución juntos.Sir, calm down, let's find a solution together.
- Por favor, mantengan la calma y sigan las instrucciones del personal.Please, keep calm and follow the staff's instructions.
- Cálmate, todo va a salir bien.Calm down, everything will be fine.
- Relájate, no hay razón para estar tan estresado.Relax, there's no reason to be so stressed.
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Lucía are at home and Lucía is very upset about a work email.
- MateoLucía, por favor, cálmate.Lucía, please, calm down.
- LucíaNo puedo, estoy muy nerviosa.I can't, I am very nervous.
- MateoTranquila, todo saldrá bien.Calm down, everything will be fine.
- LucíaTienes razón, trataré de relajarme.You are right, I will try to relax.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
