ruhig

Ruhig is a German adjective meaning calm, quiet, or peaceful. It describes a person’s demeanor, an environment, a pace, or a mood. Examples include eine ruhige Nacht (a calm night), ein ruhiger Ort (a quiet place), and Es ist ruhig today (It is quiet today). The word can also function as an adverb in some contexts, as in Er spricht ruhig (He speaks calmly) or Bleib ruhig (Stay calm).

Etymology and related forms: Ruhig is derived from Ruhe, the noun for peace or quiet, with the common adjectival suffix -ig. It is related to ruhen, meaning to rest, and to the broader concept of Ruhe. The adjective follows standard German inflection: der ruhige Mann, die ruhige Landschaft, das ruhige Meer; comparative form ruhiger, superlative am ruhigsten. In predicative constructions the form remains ruhig: Es ist ruhig.

Usage notes: Ruhig is versatile and can describe people (ruhiger Mensch), places (ruhiger Ort), objects, or situations (ruhiges Wetter). It is frequently used to express a desired or observed calmness, or to urge someone to maintain composure, as in Bleib ruhig or Mach dir keine Sorgen, bleib ruhig. In contrast to synonyms like still or friedlich, ruhig often emphasizes an absence of noise or agitation as well as a sense of steadiness or composure.

In music and literary contexts, ruhig may appear as a mood marking or descriptive adjective to indicate a calm, unhurried character. See also Ruhe (peace, quiet) and ruhiger as related lexical forms.