calme
/kalm/
The French word calme means calm.
calme is used to describe a state of being or a quality.
Which one should you use?
When used as an adjective, calme describes a state of being or a quality, whereas calmer is the comparative form meaning 'calmer'.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, the form calme is used for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. The plural form of the adjective is calmes.
How do you pronounce it?
/kalm/
Did you know?
- The French word calme shares its ancient roots with the Greek word kaûma, which actually referred to 'heat' or 'burning' rather than peace.
- In French, describing a person as un calme olympien implies they possess a level of serenity that is almost god-like or unshakable.
- The phrase calme plat literally translates to 'flat calm', but it is often used idiomatically to describe a situation where absolutely nothing is happening.
Examples in context
- Sa présence apaisée dans la pièce rassurait tout le monde.His calm presence in the room reassured everyone.
- Malgré la situation tendue, il est resté posé.Despite the tense situation, he remained calm.
- Elle est extrêmement calme aujourd'hui.She is extremely calm today.
- Le lac est très calme ce matin.The lake is very calm this morning.
- Il faut rester calme pendant l'examen.You must stay calm during the exam.
- J'aime l'atmosphère calme de cette bibliothèque.I love the calm atmosphere of this library.
Example conversation
Manon and Gabriel are walking through a park.
- ManonLe parc est vraiment calme aujourd'hui.The park is really calm today.
- GabrielOui, c'est un endroit très calme pour lire.Yes, it is a very calm place to read.
- ManonGabriel, tu veux rester ici un moment ?Gabriel, do you want to stay here for a while?
- GabrielAvec plaisir, l'air est agréable.With pleasure, the air is pleasant.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry calme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calme, CC BY-SA 4.0.
