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gelassen
calm
Calm, relaxed, and unflustered, even in difficult or stressful situations.
example
Obwohl alle in Panik waren, blieb der Pilot vollkommen gelassen.
Although everyone was panicking, the pilot remained completely calm.
gelassen
calm
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
'Gelassen' is the past participle of the verb 'lassen' (to let/leave). The meaning derives from the idea of 'Loslassen' (letting go) or 'die Dinge sein Lassen' (letting things be), which leads to a state of inner calm.
EXAMPLE
Er wirkte nach der schwierigen Verhandlung erstaunlich gelassen.
He seemed surprisingly calm after the difficult negotiation.
Typical collocations
A very common and fixed expression is 'gelassen bleiben' (to stay calm). Other typical combinations are 'gelassen reagieren' (to react calmly), 'etwas gelassen sehen' (to take something calmly), or 'eine gelassene Haltung' (a calm attitude) bewahren (to maintain).
EXAMPLE
Es ist wichtig, auch in stressigen Situationen immer gelassen zu bleiben.
It is important to always stay calm, even in stressful situations.
Use as an adverb
'Gelassen' can also be used as an adverb to describe how an action is carried out. It then remains unchanged after the verb.
EXAMPLE
Sie nahm die unerwartete Planänderung gelassen auf.
She took the unexpected change of plan calmly.
Compare with
gelassen vs cool
cool
'cool' and 'gelassen' can both describe that someone stays calm and does not get upset quickly. 'Cool' is informal and often sounds somewhat admiring or laid-back. 'Gelassen' is more neutral and also fits in more serious situations, for example at work, in a conversation, or when dealing with problems. If you want to describe a calm attitude in a factual way, 'gelassen' is more precise. If you want to say casually that someone seems calm and strong, 'cool' fits well.
gelassen
Das Team ist gelassen geblieben, obwohl der Termin sehr knapp war.
The team stayed calm, even though the deadline was very tight.
cool
Als der Zug ausfiel, blieb Paul überraschend cool.
When the train was canceled, Paul stayed surprisingly cool.
In real life
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