How to Say "distressed" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “distressed” is “angustiado” — B1 level.
Examples
Carlos está angustiado porque no encuentra sus llaves y llega tarde.
Carlos is distressed because he can't find his keys and he is late.
La madre se sentía angustiada mientras esperaba noticias de su hijo.
The mother felt anguished while she waited for news about her son.
Me dio una mirada angustiada cuando le pregunté qué había pasado.
He gave me a distressed look when I asked him what had happened.
Using with 'Estar'
In Spanish, we use the verb 'estar' with this word because it describes a temporary emotional state or feeling, rather than a permanent personality trait.
Matching the Gender
Since this word is an adjective, you must change the ending: use 'angustiado' for a man and 'angustiada' for a woman.
Ser vs. Estar
Mistake: “Soy angustiado.”
Correction: Estoy angustiado. Use 'estar' because you are describing how you feel right now, not who you are as a person.
Confusing with 'Angosto'
Mistake: “La calle es angustiada.”
Correction: La calle es angosta. 'Angustiado' is for feelings; 'angosto' is for narrow spaces.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.