Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Anxious in Spanish
Ansioso · adjective · ahn-see-OH-soh
The Spanish word for anxious is 'ansioso,' an adjective that describes a state of worry, unease, or eager anticipation. Interestingly, ansioso can convey both negative anxiety and eager desire depending on context — 'estoy ansioso por el examen' means worried about the exam, while 'estoy ansioso por verte' means eagerly looking forward to seeing you.
Ansioso is pronounced ahn-see-OH-soh. The stress is on the third syllable, and the word changes to 'ansiosa' when describing a feminine subject.
Me siento ansioso antes de los exámenes.
I feel anxious before exams.
anxious in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for anxious, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| ansioso | anxious | ahn-see-OH-soh | Default, widely understood |
| angustiado | anxious | when emphasizing distress or anguish | |
| nervioso | anxious | widely used as a milder alternative across all regions |
How Native Speakers Use Ansioso
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Worried feeling
Estoy muy ansiosa por la entrevista de trabajo de mañana.
I'm very anxious about tomorrow's job interview.
Feminine form used to express worry about an upcoming event.
Eager anticipation
Los niños están ansiosos por abrir los regalos de Navidad.
The children are anxious to open the Christmas presents.
Here ansioso conveys excitement rather than worry.
Clinical context
El médico dijo que mi trastorno ansioso requiere terapia.
The doctor said my anxiety disorder requires therapy.
Used in medical settings to describe an anxiety condition.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ansioso
Gender agreement
Incorrect: Ella está ansioso por los resultados.
Correct: Ella está ansiosa por los resultados.
Ansioso must match the gender of the subject — use 'ansiosa' for feminine subjects.
Ser vs. estar confusion
Incorrect: Soy ansioso antes de viajar.
Correct: Estoy ansioso antes de viajar.
Use 'estar' for temporary emotional states. 'Ser ansioso' implies anxiety is a permanent personality trait.
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See Ansioso used by native speakers
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Common Questions About anxious in Spanish
- Can ansioso mean 'eager' in Spanish?
- Ansioso can indeed express eager anticipation when paired with 'por' followed by an infinitive or noun, such as 'estoy ansioso por empezar' (I'm eager to begin).
- What is the noun form of ansioso?
- The noun form is 'ansiedad,' meaning anxiety, which is used in both everyday and clinical contexts throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
- Is nervioso the same as ansioso?
- Nervioso describes general nervousness or jitters and tends to be milder, while ansioso implies a deeper, more persistent state of worry or anxious anticipation.