calmar
verbCEFR B2
What does “calmar” mean in English?
to soothe, to calm
to soothe, to calm (calmar + noun — reduce fear, pain, or tension)
Example sentences
Las autoridades tomaron medidas para calmar los temores de la población ante la incertidumbre económica.
The authorities took measures to calm the population's fears in the face of economic uncertainty.
El banco central intervino para calmar los mercados tras la caída brusca de los índices.
The central bank intervened to calm the markets after the sharp fall in indices.
Le habló con paciencia durante veinte minutos hasta que consiguió calmarlo.
He spoke to him patiently for twenty minutes until he managed to calm him down.
How to use it
Calmar means 'to calm', 'to soothe', or 'to ease'. Transitive: calmar los temores (calm fears), calmar el dolor (ease pain). Reflexive calmarse: to calm down — cálmate (calm down). At B2, both the interpersonal register (calmar a alguien) and the formal policy register (calmar los mercados) are important. Near-synonyms in order of intensity: apaciguar (more forceful suppression of turbulence) > calmar > tranquilizar (reassure more gently).
Common mistake
Calmar vs. tranquilizar: tranquilizar implies reassurance through information ('don't worry, it's fine'), while calmar implies actively reducing a state of agitation. Calmarse (reflexive) = calm down yourself. The imperative cálmate is very common in spoken Spanish and is not rude — it is a direct instruction.