calmar

Calmar is a term with multiple uses in different languages and as a place name. In French, calmar is the common noun for the cuttlefish, a marine cephalopod related to squid. Cuttlefish are found in temperate and tropical seas and are valued for their soft flesh and the distinctive internal shell called a cuttlebone. In culinary contexts, calmar meat is used similarly to squid, appearing in stews, grills, and fried preparations; internationally, the English loanword calamari is more commonly used for squid dishes, while cuttlefish dishes may be described as calmar in French-speaking contexts.

In Romance-language usage, calmar also appears as a verb meaning to calm or soothe. In Spanish and Portuguese, calmar means to reduce agitation, pain, or hunger. It is important to note that the Spanish noun for squid is calamar (with a single r and an a after the l), not calmar.

Calmar is also a place name. Calmar is a town in central Alberta, Canada, known as a small community within the broader network of Alberta municipalities. The name is used in geographic contexts separate from the French culinary term or the verb meaning to calm, illustrating how a single word can have distinct meanings across languages and regions.