beruhigen

Beruhigen is a Dutch verb meaning to calm someone who is anxious or agitated, or to reassure someone that a situation is under control. It can refer to quieting emotions, reducing tension, or soothing someone’s worries. The term is used in a variety of contexts, including healthcare, crisis communication, parenting, and customer service. In everyday language, it is often preferred in formal or written contexts, while more common alternatives for everyday speech are kalmeren (to calm down) and geruststellen (to reassure).

Etymology and cognates: the word is of Dutch origin and is cognate with the German beruhigen, which shares the same basic meaning. The underlying idea is to introduce calm or quiet into a person or situation. The root is related to quiet or calm, with the prefix be- indicating an action directed at someone or something.

Usage notes: beruhigen is a transitive verb that requires a direct object or a following clause to specify what or whom is being calmed or reassured. In Dutch, it can appear in formal writing, medical or psychological contexts, as well as in journalism and diplomacy. Because it is a borrowed or formal term, many speakers choose kalmeren or geruststellen in casual speech, depending on nuance.

See also: kalmeren, geruststellen, tot bedaren brengen, geruststelling. In German-language contexts, beruhigen is used with similar meanings, illustrating the cross-linguistic cognate relationship among Dutch and German verbs related to calm and reassurance.