tranquille

Tranquille is a French adjective meaning calm or peaceful. It is used to describe people, places, or situations that are free from disturbance or agitation. For example, une journée tranquille (a quiet day), un quartier tranquille (a quiet neighborhood), or une personne tranquille (a calm person). The term can convey both physical quietness and a sense of emotional composure.

Etymology and related terms: tranquille comes from Latin tranquillus, via Old French tranquille. It is cognate with the English tranquil and tranquillity. The noun form tranquillité and the related adverb tranquillément are common in formal and literary contexts.

Usage notes: In everyday French, tranquille often emphasizes the absence of noise or trouble. It can apply to environments as well as to demeanor. Distinctions exist with calmo or calme: tranquille emphasizes steadiness and lack of disturbance, whereas calme focuses more on inner serenity or stillness. The phrase rester tranquille means to stay calm or not get worked up, and laisser quelqu’un tranquille means to leave someone alone.

Grammar and agreement: Tranquille agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (un homme tranquille, une histoire tranquille, des lieux tranquilles). When describing actions, the adverb form tranquillement is used (parler tranquillement, avancer tranquillement).

Translations: In English, tranquille is typically rendered as tranquil, calm, or quiet, depending on context. The word appears frequently in everyday speech, travel writing, and literature to convey a sense of peace or lack of disturbance.