intranquilo

Intranquilo is an adjective used in Spanish and to a lesser extent in Portuguese to indicate a lack of calm or peace. It is commonly applied to describe a person who feels uneasy or restless, as well as situations or environments that are unsettled or tense. In English, it is often rendered as restless, uneasy, or unsettled.

Etymology and form: The word is formed with the negating prefix in- attached to tranquilo, which means calm or placid. The construction conveys the sense of not being tranquil, either inwardly (a restless mind) or outwardly (a disturbed situation).

Usage and nuance: Intranquilo can describe internal states, such as feelings of worry or discomfort, and external conditions, such as a volatile or unstable atmosphere. It tends to carry a slightly formal or literary register compared with more everyday terms like inquieto or nervioso. Phrases often pair intranquilo with subjects like persona, mente, ciudad, o situación (e.g., una mente intranquila, una ciudad intranquila).

Cross-linguistic notes: In Portuguese, intranquilo exists as a cognate with a similar sense, though in everyday usage it is less common than synonyms such as inquieto or agitado. The word may appear in literary or journalistic contexts across Ibero-Romance languages.

Cultural references: As a thematic term, intranquilo is sometimes used in titles or descriptions in Spanish-language media to evoke mood or tension. However, its use as a standalone proper noun is not standardized and varies by author, region, and era.

See also: Restlessness, Unease, Inquietud, Calma (antonym). Translations: restless, uneasy, unsettled.