nervios
“nervios” means “nerves” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
nerves, nervousness
Also: stage fright
📝 In Action
Tengo muchos nervios antes de la presentación.
A1I have a lot of nerves/anxiety before the presentation.
¿Puedes darme un vaso de agua? ¡Estoy de nervios!
A2Can you give me a glass of water? I'm so nervous!
Ella trató de calmar sus nervios respirando profundamente.
B1She tried to calm her nerves by breathing deeply.
nerves
Also: sinews
📝 In Action
El sistema de nervios controla todos los movimientos del cuerpo.
B2The system of nerves controls all the movements of the body.
Sufrió una lesión que afectó varios nervios de la columna.
C1He suffered an injury that affected several nerves in the spine.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: nervios
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'nervios' to mean anxiety?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'nervus,' which originally meant 'sinew' or 'tendon' before it developed the modern meaning of a physical nerve and, later, the figurative sense of strength or agitation.
First recorded: Around the 13th century in Spanish, deriving from the Latin root.
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
If 'nervios' is plural, why is the English translation 'nervousness' (singular)?
Spanish often uses the plural form 'nervios' to treat the feeling of anxiety as a collection of jitters, worries, or physical sensations. Think of it as 'a case of the nerves,' which is common in English too, but in Spanish, the plural is mandatory for this emotional meaning.
What's the difference between 'nervios' and 'nerviosismo'?
'Nervios' usually refers to the temporary state or specific jitters (Tengo nervios). 'Nerviosismo' refers to the general condition or trait of being anxious (Su nerviosismo es crónico).