Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Angst | /aŋst/ | feminine |
| Unbehagen | /ˈʊnbəˌhaːɡn̩/ | neuter |
| Nervosität | /ˌnɛʁvoziˈtɛːt/ /-ˈteːt/ |
feminine |
| Ängstlichkeit | /ˈɛŋstlɪçkaɪt/ | feminine |
| Unruhe | [ˈʊnˌruːə] (narrow) [ˈʊnˌʁuːə] (narrow) |
feminine |
| innere Unruhe | feminine | |
| Beklommenheit | /bəˈklɔmənhaɪ̯t/ | feminine |
| Furcht | /fʊrçt/ | feminine |
| Beklemmung | feminine | |
| Aufgeregtheit | feminine |
Angst is a commonly used term in German to describe a state of uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension or obsession. While it is the standard translation for 'anxiety', it also literally means 'fear' in German. In medical or psychological contexts, specifically when referring to clinical anxiety or recurring anxiety attacks, Germans often use the compound noun Angstzustände.
Which one should you use?
Nervosität describes a milder, more temporary state of being 'on edge' rather than the deeper psychological state of 'anxiety'. Unruhe is used when the anxiety manifests as physical or mental restlessness rather than a specific feeling of dread.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Swiss German, the term Ängscht is commonly used to express anxiety.
How does it change in a sentence?
Angst is a feminine noun, so it takes the feminine article die (die Angst). Other forms include the neuter Unbehagen and various feminine nouns such as Nervosität, Ängstlichkeit, Unruhe, innere Unruhe, Beklommenheit, Furcht, Beklemmung and Aufgeregtheit. The adjective form of Angst is ängstlich.
How do you pronounce it?
/aŋst/
Did you know?
- The word Angst shares a distant linguistic root with the English word 'anguish', as both derive from a root meaning 'narrow' or 'tight'.
- In German, Angst is used in the phrase Angst haben, which literally means 'to have fear', but it is the standard way to say 'to be afraid' or 'to be anxious'.
- The word Angst is used in English as a loanword to describe a specific kind of deep, existential dread or teenage angst, which is more specific than the general German use of the word.
Examples in context
- Die Angst machte sie fast wild.Her anxiety almost drove her wild.This sentence shows how Angst can affect someone's behavior.Tatoeba #1546953 by Esperantostern, translation #316720 by CM
- Tom leidet unter Angstzuständen.Tom suffers from anxiety.This sentence uses Angst to describe a medical condition.Tatoeba #7448617 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #6377482 by Hybrid
- Ich habe ernsthafte Angstzustände.I've got serious anxiety problems.This sentence uses Angst to describe serious anxiety problems.Tatoeba #12877426 by Waldelfe, translation #11845341 by shekitten
- Haben Sie Angst vor Präsentationen?Do you have anxiety when it comes to presentations?
- Ich mache mir Sorgen um meine Zukunft.I am anxious about my future.
- Ich habe Bammel vor der Prüfung.I'm anxious about the exam.
- Ich habe total Schiss vor der Achterbahn.I'm really anxious about the roller coaster.
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are talking about a big presentation at work.
- JuliaHast du vor der Präsentation Angst?Do you have anxiety before the presentation?
- FelixJa, ich habe ein bisschen Angst.Yes, I have a little anxiety.
- JuliaDas ist ganz normal, Felix.That is completely normal, Felix.
- FelixIch hoffe, die Angst geht schnell vorbei.I hope the anxiety goes away quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “anxiety” translations and entries Angst, Unbehagen, Nervosität, Ängstlichkeit, Unruhe, Beklommenheit, Furcht, Beklemmung, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Angst, Unbehagen, Ängstlichkeit, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
