Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA |
|---|---|
| tranquilo | /tɾɐ̃ˈkwi.lu/ (Brazil) /tɾɐ̃ˈkwi.lu/ (Portugal) |
| calmo | /ˈkaw.mu/ (Brazil) /ˈkal.mu/ (Portugal) |
tranquilo is a straightforward and widely-used translation for 'tranquil', describing a state that is calm and without motion or sound.
Which one should you use?
While both tranquilo and calmo mean calm, tranquilo often implies a sense of peace or a lack of disturbance. In contrast, calmo is more frequently used to describe a lack of physical agitation or movement.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Brazil, the informal expression De boa is commonly used to mean 'it's all good', though this expression is not common in Portugal.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word tranquilo changes gender and number to match the noun it describes: tranquila is the feminine form, tranquilos is the masculine plural and tranquilas is the feminine plural.
How do you pronounce it?
tranquilo is pronounced /tɾɐ̃ˈkwi.lu/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
When do people say it?
In Brazil, you might hear the popular informal phrase De boa to express that everything is fine or 'it's all good'.
Did you know?
- While tranquilo is the standard term, in many parts of Brazil, the slang tranquilão can be used to describe a person who is extremely chill or a situation that is exceptionally relaxed.
- If a Brazilian tells you Fica tranquilo, they are not just telling you to be calm, but are actually giving you a reassuring 'don't worry about it'.
- The word tranquilo shares the exact same Latin root, tranquillus, as the English word 'tranquil', making it a cognate.
Examples in context
- De repente, o silêncio tranquilo da manhã foi interrompido pelo ruído de um pequeno barco a motor que se aproximava do navio.Suddenly, the tranquil quietness of the morning was interrupted by the noise of a small motorboat that approached the ship.This sentence shows how tranquilo describes a quiet morning.Tatoeba #12140070 by Cangarejo, translation #12140069 by Cangarejo
- O dia está muito bonito e o mar está calmo.The day is very beautiful and the sea is tranquil.This sentence uses calmo to describe a tranquil sea.Tatoeba #10069664 by Balamax, translation #10069653 by espamatics
- A cidade é tranquila e seguraThe city is tranquil and safe
- Após a tempestade, o oceano estava pacíficoAfter the storm, the ocean was tranquil
- Estamos apenas relaxando, de boaWe're just chilling, all good
Example conversation
Camila and Rodrigo are sitting by a lake at sunset.
- CamilaO lago está muito tranquilo hoje.The lake is very tranquil today.
- RodrigoSim, o lugar é perfeito para relaxar.Yes, the place is perfect to relax.
- CamilaEu me sinto muito bem aqui.I feel very good here.
- RodrigoEu também, Camila.Me too, Camila.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tranquil” translations and entries tranquilo, calmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries calmo, tranquilo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
