nervioso
“nervioso” means “nervous” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
nervous, anxious
Also: tense, agitated
📝 In Action
Estoy nervioso por la entrevista de trabajo de mañana.
A1I am nervous about tomorrow's job interview.
Mi hermana está muy nerviosa antes de subir al escenario.
A2My sister is very anxious before going up on stage.
No te pongas nervioso; todo va a salir bien.
B1Don't get nervous; everything is going to turn out well.
nervous
Also: neural
📝 In Action
El sistema nervioso central controla el cuerpo.
B2The central nervous system controls the body.
Sufrió daño en el tejido nervioso después del accidente.
C1He suffered damage to the nervous tissue after the accident.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: nervioso
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses the biological meaning of 'nervioso'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin *nervōsus*, which was based on *nervus*, meaning 'sinew, tendon, or nerve.' In Spanish, it inherited both the physical meaning (related to the body's nerves) and the emotional meaning (being stressed or agitated, as if your nerves are on edge).
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say that someone is a naturally nervous person?
While we usually use 'estar' to describe feeling nervous right now ('Estoy nervioso'), you can use 'ser' (Ser nervioso/a) to describe someone who is generally anxious or easily stressed as part of their character.
What is the difference between 'nervioso' and 'ansioso'?
'Nervioso' usually means you feel agitated or restless, often due to a known event (like a test). 'Ansioso' is slightly stronger and means 'anxious' or 'eager,' often involving a feeling of distress or worry about the future.