nounnounadjective

le tranquille

quiet · relax

Qui est calme, sans bruit ni agitation.

Definition & meaning

The word "tranquille" primarily describes a state of being calm, peaceful, or quiet. It is used in several contexts:

Peaceful and quiet: Used to describe a place or environment that is free from noise, agitation, or disturbance. For example, a "rue tranquille" is a quiet street.
Calm and composed: Used to describe a person who is relaxed, not worried, or even-tempered. If someone stays "tranquille," they are remaining cool-headed.
Safe or stable: It can describe a situation that is secure or certain, where there is nothing to fear.
Colloquial usage: In modern informal French, "Tranquille !" is often used as an exclamation to mean "Don't worry," "It's all good," or "Easy."

Grammar & Word origin

"Tranquille" is an adjective. In French, it is an epicene word, meaning the spelling remains the same for both masculine and feminine singular subjects. When used with plural nouns, an "s" is added to the end: "tranquilles."

The word originates from the Latin adjective tranquillus, which meant calm, still, or serene, often used in ancient times to describe the weather or the sea.