A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Please stay calm" in French
How to tell someone to remain calm in a stressful situation in France, using polite and standard French.
Restez calme, s'il vous plaît.
ruh-STAY KALM, seel voo PLAYneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this if you're in a tense situation, like a minor accident or a heated discussion, and need to de-escalate. It's a direct but polite way to ask for composure from someone who might be upset.
Alternatives
- Calmez-vous, s'il vous plaît.This is more direct, like 'Calm yourself down'.
- Du calme, s'il vous plaît.This is a bit softer, like 'Some calm, please'.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'calme' like 'cal-me'
The 'e' at the end of 'calme' is silent; it's pronounced like 'kalm'.
Forgetting the liaison
In 'Restez calme', the 'z' sound from 'Restez' should link to the 'a' in 'calme' to sound like 'Restez-z-calme'.
A small cultural note
While directness is common in French, adding 's'il vous plaît' softens the command considerably. French speakers generally appreciate politeness even in emergencies.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
When should I use 'restez calme' vs 'calmez-vous'?
'Restez calme' is a general instruction to maintain a state of calm. 'Calmez-vous' is a more active command to stop being agitated.
Is 's'il vous plaît' always needed?
Yes, especially when addressing someone you don't know well or in a formal context. It's the standard polite addition.
What if I need to tell a friend to calm down?
You would use the informal 'tu' form: 'Reste calme, s'il te plaît' or 'Calme-toi, s'il te plaît'.
