Questions & Answers about Bleibt ruhig!
Why does the verb end in -t here (Bleibt)?
This is an informal plural command, meaning it is addressed to two or more people you know well (the ihr group). To make this command, you just use the standard present tense ihr form (ihr bleibt) and drop the pronoun ihr.
Where is the word for "you" in this sentence?
In German, we drop the pronoun for informal commands (du and ihr). We only keep the pronoun when giving a formal command using Sie. If you were telling a group of strangers to stay calm, you would say Bleiben Sie ruhig!
Does ruhig mean "calm" or "quiet"?
It can mean both! Depending on the situation, Bleibt ruhig! can translate to "Stay calm!" (like during a stressful event) or "Stay quiet!" (like telling a noisy group to stop talking).
How would I say this to just one person?
To give this command to one person informally, you use the du form. Start with the present tense du bleibst, drop the du and the -st ending, and you get Bleib ruhig!
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