Lo importante es mantener la calma.

The important thing is to stay calm.

Breakdown of Lo importante es mantener la calma.

• ser: to be
• la calma: the calm
• mantener: to maintain
• lo importante: the important thing

Questions & Answers about Lo importante es mantener la calma.

What does the lo mean in Lo importante?

Here lo is the neuter article. It turns an adjective into an abstract noun: lo importante = “the important thing/what’s important.” It doesn’t refer to a masculine or feminine noun; it refers to the idea or quality in general.

Why isn’t it la importante?

Because there’s no specific feminine noun being modified. When you want to talk about an abstract quality in general (the important thing, the good, the bad, etc.), Spanish uses neuter lo + adjective: lo importante, lo bueno, lo malo. If you said la importante, you’d be implying a feminine noun like la cosa importante, which isn’t present here.

Why is it es and not está?

Use ser (es) to define, classify, or state essential characteristics. The structure here is an identity/definition: “What is the important thing? To keep calm.” With such general, timeless statements of value or importance, Spanish uses ser, not estar.

Why is mantener in the infinitive? Could it be conjugated?

The infinitive mantener acts like a noun here, functioning as the complement to lo importante es. You wouldn’t conjugate it as mantiene in this structure. English also uses the infinitive/gerund in similar ways: “The important thing is to keep/keeping calm.”

Do I need a de before the infinitive (like “de mantener”)?

No. After structures like Lo importante es + infinitive, you don’t use a preposition. Just say Lo importante es mantener la calma. Using de here sounds unnatural.

Why is it la calma and not just calma?

Spanish typically uses the definite article with abstract nouns when speaking in general: la calma, la paciencia, la libertad. Also, mantener la calma is a very common fixed phrase. Saying just mantener calma is possible in some contexts but sounds less idiomatic.

Is calma feminine?

Yes. Calma is a feminine noun, hence la calma. If you switch to an adjective construction, agreement shows up: mantenerse calmado/calmada or mantenerse tranquilo/tranquila, matching the subject’s gender.

Can I say Lo más importante es mantener la calma? What’s the difference?

Yes. Lo importante = “what’s important.” Lo más importante = “the most important thing,” which adds a superlative emphasis. Both are correct; the second is stronger.

Can I change the word order to Mantener la calma es lo importante?

Yes, that’s correct. Spanish allows either order with ser. The version that starts with Lo importante foregrounds the criterion (“what matters”), whereas starting with Mantener la calma foregrounds the action. Meaning stays the same; emphasis shifts.

Could I use the subjunctive with que instead of the infinitive?

Absolutely. Two common options:

• Lo importante es mantener la calma. (infinitive; general action)
• Lo importante es que te mantengas calmado/a. (subjunctive; focuses on a specific subject “you” and is more evaluative) When you say es importante que…, Spanish normally uses the present subjunctive (te mantengas).

What’s the difference between mantener la calma and mantenerse calmado/tranquilo?

• Mantener la calma uses a noun (“calm”) and the transitive verb mantener; it’s very idiomatic and neutral.
• Mantenerse calmado/tranquilo uses a reflexive verb plus an adjective; it emphasizes remaining in a calm state. Both are fine. You might also hear quedarse tranquilo (“stay calm”) and no perder la calma (“not lose your calm/composure”).

Are there close synonyms for the whole phrase?

Yes:

• Lo importante es conservar/guardar la calma.
• Lo importante es no perder la calma.
• Lo importante es mantener la tranquilidad/la serenidad/la compostura. All sound natural in Latin America, with slight nuance differences (e.g., compostura leans toward “composure”).

How would I say it as a command like “Keep calm!”?

• To one person (tú): ¡Mantén la calma!
• To one person (usted): ¡Mantenga la calma!
• To a group (ustedes): ¡Mantengan la calma!
• Voseo (common in parts of Latin America): ¡Mantené la calma! Negative tú: ¡No pierdas la calma! is also very idiomatic.

How is mantener conjugated in key forms?

It’s like tener (yo form with g-, stem change e→ie in some forms):

• Present indicative: yo mantengo, tú mantienes, él/ella mantiene, nosotros mantenemos, ustedes/ellos mantienen
• Imperative: tú mantén (voseo: mantené), usted mantenga, ustedes mantengan
• Subjunctive (present): que yo mantenga, que tú mantengas, que él/ella mantenga, que nosotros mantengamos, que ustedes mantengan

Is this sentence formal or informal?

It’s neutral and fits both formal and informal contexts. You could say it in a meeting, in instructions, or to a friend. If speaking directly to someone, you might tailor it: Lo importante es que te mantengas tranquilo/a.