Inklingo

How to Say "anxiety" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “anxiety” is “ansiedad” — use 'ansiedad' for a general mental state of worry, nervousness, or unease, especially when it's a persistent condition or relates to specific situations like social interactions.

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ansiedad

ahn-syay-DAHDansjeˈðað

NounB1General
Use 'ansiedad' for a general mental state of worry, nervousness, or unease, especially when it's a persistent condition or relates to specific situations like social interactions.
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.

Examples

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

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.

The doctor recommended breathing exercises to control the anxiety.

Sentía una ansiedad terrible antes de los exámenes finales.

He felt terrible worry before the final exams.

Gender Reminder

Remember that 'ansiedad' is always a feminine word, so you must use 'la' before it (la ansiedad) and feminine adjectives after it (ansiedad profunda).

False Cognate Alert

Mistake: “Using 'ansiedad' to mean 'annoyance' or 'anger.'”

Correction: Ansiedad refers specifically to worry or eagerness, not irritation. Use 'molestia' or 'rabia' for annoyance/anger.

preocupación

nounA2General
Choose 'preocupación' when the feeling is specifically about worrying over something, like a future event or the well-being of others, indicating a more directed concern.

Examples

Siento mucha preocupación por el futuro de mis hijos.

I feel a lot of worry about the future of my children.

angustia

ahn-GOOS-tyahanˈɡustja

nounB2General
Use 'angustia' to describe a more intense feeling of deep distress, anguish, or severe unease, often a more physical or profound emotional state.
A person sitting alone on a small hill with their head in their hands, looking very sad and overwhelmed.

Examples

Sentí una gran angustia cuando no encontraba mis llaves.

I felt a great sense of distress when I couldn't find my keys.

Su rostro reflejaba la angustia por la noticia.

His face reflected the anguish caused by the news.

Gender and Articles

Even though it ends in 'a', this is a feminine noun. Use 'la angustia' or 'una angustia' when talking about it.

Feeling vs. Being

Mistake: “Estoy angustia.”

Correction: Say 'Tengo angustia' (I have anguish) or 'Estoy angustiado' (I am distressed). In Spanish, you often 'have' feelings rather than 'being' them.

ansia

AHN-syahˈansja

nounB2General
Opt for 'ansia' when referring to a persistent, often physical, feeling of deep unease or a strong craving or longing that causes worry.
A person sitting on a small island surrounded by dark, swirling water, holding their head in their hands.

Examples

Sentía un ansia constante en el pecho sin saber por qué.

I felt a constant anguish in my chest without knowing why.

Las ansias lo consumían mientras esperaba los resultados.

Anxiety was consuming him while he waited for the results.

Plural for emphasis

When talking about emotional distress, the plural 'ansias' is often used to show that the feeling is intense or overwhelming.

Ansiedad vs. Angustia vs. Preocupación

Learners often confuse 'ansiedad' and 'angustia'. Remember that 'ansiedad' is a more general, often mental, state of worry, while 'angustia' implies a deeper, more intense emotional distress, sometimes with physical symptoms. 'Preocupación' is specifically about 'worry' over something concrete.

Related Translations

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