cálmate
/kalmate/from spelling rules
The English phrase "take a chill pill" can be translated into Spanish as cálmate.
cálmate is an informal way to tell someone to calm down or relax when they are overreacting.
Which one should you use?
While cálmate is used to tell someone to settle down, the alternative relájate focuses more on the act of relaxing rather than addressing an emotional outburst.
How does it change in a sentence?
If you are telling a group of people to "take a chill pill", you should use the plural form cálmense.
How do you pronounce it?
/kalmate/
Did you know?
- In Spain, you might hear the expression no te rayes when telling someone not to overthink or get worked up. It comes from the 'scratches' or 'grooves' on a vinyl record that cause a needle to skip and repeat the same sound.
- In some Spanish-speaking countries, the phrase bájale una rayita is used to tell someone to 'take a chill pill'. It literally means 'lower it by one little line', referring to turning down the volume on a radio or amplifier.
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, saying cálmate can actually have the opposite effect of calming someone down, often being perceived as a challenge or an insult to their feelings.
Examples in context
- Estás muy alterado, amigo. Mejor tómate un respiro y luego lo discutimos.You're very worked up, my friend. It's better to take a breather and then discuss it.
- ¡Ey! Tranquilízate un poco. No vale la pena enfadarse tanto.Hey! Calm down a bit. It's not worth getting so upset.
- ¡Cálmate! No es para tanto.Calm down! It's not that big of a deal.
- ¡Cálmate un poco!Calm down a bit!
- Cálmate, no es para tanto.Relax, it's not that big of a deal.
- Solo cálmate y respira.Just calm down and breathe.
Example conversation
Mateo is getting very angry because he lost his keys.
- SofíaMateo, cálmate, que no aparecen.Mateo, chill out, they just aren't appearing.
- Mateo¡Es que siempre pasa lo mismo!It's just that the same thing always happens!
- SofíaCálmate, las encontraremos pronto.Calm down, we will find them soon.
- MateoEstá bien, trataré de relajarme.Fine, I will try to relax.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
