A thick rope being pulled horizontally from both sides until it is perfectly straight and tight.

tenso

TEN-so

adjectivemA2

tight?physically stretched,tense?nervous or stressed

Also:taut?pulled tight, like a rope,strained?a relationship or situation

📝 In Action

La cuerda tiene que estar muy tensa para que funcione.

The rope has to be very tight for it to work.

Hoy me siento un poco tenso por la reunión de mañana.

I feel a bit tense today because of tomorrow's meeting.

Había un ambiente tenso en la oficina después de la noticia.

There was a strained atmosphere in the office after the news.

Word Connections

Synonyms

tirante (tight/taut)
nervioso (nervous)
estresado (stressed)

Antonyms

flojo (loose)
relajado (relaxed)
tranquilo (calm)

Common Collocations

ambiente tenso – tense atmosphere
músculos tensos – tense muscles
silencio tenso – tense silence

💡 Grammar Points

Matching the word it describes

This word must change to match the gender of the person or object: use 'tenso' for men/masculine things and 'tensa' for women/feminine things.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Tenso vs. Tensión

Mistake: "Using 'tengo tenso' to say you have tension."

Correction: Say 'estoy tenso' (I am tense) or 'tengo tensión' (I have tension).

⭐ Usage Tips

People vs. Things

Use 'estar' with 'tenso' when talking about people being nervous, as it's usually a temporary feeling.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tenso

Question 1 of 2

If a guitar string is pulled very tight, you would say it is...

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tensión(tension) - noun

tensar(to tighten) - verb

tensamente(tensely) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'tenso' to describe a person's personality?

Generally, no. 'Tenso' describes a state (how someone feels right now). If someone is always a nervous or 'intense' person, you would use 'nervioso' or 'intenso' with the verb 'ser'.

Is 'tenso' the same as 'estresado'?

They are very similar! 'Estresado' specifically means you have a lot of work or pressure, while 'tenso' can be about the physical feeling in your muscles or a nervous vibe in a room.