descansa tranquilo
/deskansa tɾankilo/from spelling rules
To rest easy in Spanish is to say descansa tranquilo.
This phrase is used to tell someone to relax and stop worrying because a situation is now safe or a problem has been resolved. While the verb descansa can refer to physical rest, in this context, it functions as a way to tell someone to be at peace.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the imperative verb descansa (rest) and the adjective tranquilo (calm, quiet or easy).
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree with the person you are addressing. If you are speaking to a woman, use the feminine form descansa tranquila. To address a group of people, use the plural forms descansen tranquilos for a mixed group or an all-male group or descansen tranquilas for a group consisting only of women.
Did you know?
- While descansa tranquilo is a way to comfort the living, saying descansa en paz shifts the meaning entirely to the dead. You should never use the 'en paz' version to tell a living person to relax.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, instead of saying 'rest easy', people might say duerme con Dios, which literally translates to 'sleep with God'.
- In certain Latin American cultures, using tranquilo with a complaining person can be a subtle way of dismissing their concerns. It can act as a polite way to say 'stop complaining' or 'forget about it'.
Examples in context
- Descanse, todo estará bien.Rest easy, everything will be fine.
- Descansa tranquilo/a y que tengas dulces sueños.Rest easy and have sweet dreams.
- Descanse tranquilo/a y que tenga dulces sueñosRest easy and have sweet dreams
- Ya terminamos el proyecto, descansa tranquilo.We finished the project, rest easy.
- El médico dijo que todo está bien, descansa tranquilo.The doctor said everything is fine, rest easy.
- La puerta está cerrada, descansa tranquilo.The door is locked, rest easy.
Example conversation
Daniel is worried about a mistake at work that Elena fixed.
- DanielMe preocupa mucho el error del informe.I am very worried about the report error.
- ElenaYa lo corregí, descansa tranquilo, Daniel.I already corrected it, rest easy, Daniel.
- DanielMuchas gracias por tu ayuda, Elena.Thank you very much for your help, Elena.
- ElenaNo hay problema, todo está bien.No problem, everything is fine.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
