Inklingo

How to Say "anxiety" in Spanish

English → Spanish

ansiedad

ahn-syay-DAHD/ansjeˈðað/

NounB1General
Use 'ansiedad' for the general mental state of worry, nervousness, or unease, especially when it's a recurring condition like social anxiety or general anxiety disorder.
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 worry or concern regarding a future event or a particular problem.

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-tyah//anˈɡustja/

nounB2General
Use 'angustia' to describe a more intense feeling of distress, anguish, or even physical discomfort, often caused by a specific, stressful situation.
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.

Ansiedad vs. Angustia vs. Preocupación

Learners often use 'ansiedad' for all types of anxiety. Remember that 'preocupación' is for worry about something specific, and 'angustia' implies a deeper, more intense distress, sometimes physical.

Related Translations

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