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ansiedad

ahn-syay-DAHDansjeˈðað

“ansiedad” means “anxiety” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

anxiety

Also: worry, distress
NounfB1
A small child sitting on the floor, hugging their knees tightly, with a worried or distressed expression. A small, dark gray cloud hovers directly above the child's head.

📝 In Action

Sufre de mucha ansiedad social cuando tiene que hablar en público.

B1

She suffers from a lot of social anxiety when she has to speak in public.

El médico le recomendó ejercicios de respiración para controlar la ansiedad.

B2

The doctor recommended breathing exercises to control the anxiety.

Sentía una ansiedad terrible antes de los exámenes finales.

B1

He felt terrible worry before the final exams.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • ataque de ansiedad – anxiety attack
  • sentir ansiedad – to feel anxiety

eagerness, craving

Also: anticipation
NounfA2
A smiling child standing on tiptoes, eagerly peering over a brightly colored gift box. The child looks highly excited and anticipatory.

📝 In Action

Esperaba la película con mucha ansiedad.

A2

She waited for the movie with great eagerness/anticipation.

Tengo ansiedad de comer algo dulce después de cenar.

B1

I have a craving to eat something sweet after dinner.

La ansiedad por ganar la carrera era evidente en sus ojos.

B2

The eagerness to win the race was evident in his eyes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • calmar la ansiedad – to calm the craving/eagerness
  • comer con ansiedad – to eat eagerly

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ansiedad" in Spanish:

anticipation→anxiety→craving→distress→eagerness→worry→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ansiedad

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'ansiedad' to mean 'eagerness' or 'anticipation'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
ansioso/a(anxious; eager) — Adjective
ansiosamente(anxiously; eagerly) — Adverb
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

The word comes from the Latin term *anxietas*, which described a state of trouble or distress in the mind. It shares roots with the English word 'anxiety.'

First recorded: 15th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: ansiedadeFrench: anxiété

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ansiedad' only used for serious mental health issues?

No. While it is the correct term for clinical anxiety, it is also used commonly in everyday life to mean strong eagerness, anticipation, or a simple craving (like a craving for sweets).

How do I say 'anxiety attack' in Spanish?

The most common and correct phrase is 'un ataque de ansiedad.' Since 'ansiedad' is feminine, you use the preposition 'de' after the masculine noun 'ataque.'