por favor cálmate
/poɾ faboɾ kalmate/from spelling rules
In Spanish, please calm down is said as por favor cálmate.
You can also use the expression Tómate la vida con calma to mean 'take life easy', which serves as an indirect way to suggest that someone should calm down.
What does it mean word for word?
The word cálmate is a reflexive imperative meaning 'calm yourself'. It combines the verb calmar (to calm) with the reflexive pronoun te (yourself).
Which one should you use?
While cálmate is a command used to tell someone to calm down, if you wish to make a statement that someone is currently in the process of calming down, you would say te calmas.
How does it change in a sentence?
Spanish uses different imperative forms depending on the number of people and the level of formality. Use por favor cálmate for the informal singular when speaking to one person you know well. To address a group of people, use the plural form por favor cálmense.
Did you know?
- In Spain, the phrase no te rayes is a popular colloquial way to tell a friend to calm down or stop overthinking. It literally translates to 'do not scratch yourself', referring to a vinyl record skipping.
- The word calma can also be used as a noun to describe a specific weather condition. A calma chata refers to a complete lack of wind and a mirror-like sea, which is a nightmare for sailors.
- Depending on the region, you might hear bájale as a slang way to say 'calm down'. Literally meaning 'lower it', it refers to lowering the volume of one's voice or the intensity of their anger.
Examples in context
- Tranquilízate, amigo. Vamos a encontrar una solución juntos.Calm down, friend. We are going to find a solution together.
- Por favor cálmate y respira.Please calm down and breathe.
- No grites, por favor cálmate.Don't shout, please calm down.
- Por favor cálmate, no es para tanto.Please calm down, it's not that big of a deal.
Example conversation
Sofía is upset about a mistake at work.
- DanielSofía, por favor cálmate.Sofía, please calm down.
- Sofía¡Es que no puedo creerlo!It is just that I cannot believe it!
- DanielPodemos solucionar el problema juntos.We can solve the problem together.
- SofíaTienes razón, gracias Daniel.You are right, thanks Daniel.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
