Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA |
|---|---|
| gergin | /ɟeɾˈɟin/ |
| endişeli | /endiʃeli/ (from spelling rules) |
In Turkish, you can use gergin to describe someone who is feeling tense, edgy or high-strung. It is also used to describe a general state of being on edge. You can intensify this feeling using the word çok, which means 'very'.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, gergin means 'stretched', 'tight' or 'tense'. This literal sense is why it is used to describe a person experiencing tension or nervousness.
Which one should you use?
While both words translate to 'nervous', they carry different nuances. gergin implies a physical or mental state of tension and being on edge. In contrast, endişeli is used when the nervousness is specifically rooted in worry or anxiety about a particular situation or outcome.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say 'I am nervous', you add the first-person singular suffix '-im' to the adjective to form gerginim.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation of gergin is /ɟeɾˈɟin/. The /ɟ/ sound is like the 'g' in 'argue', the /ɾ/ is like the 't' in the American English pronunciation of 'atom', the /i/ is like the 'ee' in 'creek' and the /n/ is like the 'n' in 'not'.
Did you know?
- While gergin means 'nervous' when describing a person, it is also the standard word used to describe a 'tight' guitar string or a 'stretched' rubber band.
- To describe someone who is 'nervous' in a way that suggests they are shaky or trembling, Turks often use the word heyecanlı, which more literally means 'excited'.
- The word endişeli shares a root with the concept of 'thought' or 'reflection' in its original Ottoman form, suggesting that anxiety is a product of deep thinking.
Examples in context
- O çok fazla gergin.He's a nervous wreck.This sentence is useful for describing someone who is a nervous wreck using gergin.Tatoeba #2079832 by duran, translation #1849072 by Spamster
- Tom her zaman gergin.Tom is always nervous.This sentence shows how to say someone is always nervous using gergin.Tatoeba #2502161 by duran, translation #2272929 by CK
- Şu anda biraz gerginim.I'm a bit nervous right now.This sentence helps you express that you are a bit nervous right now using gerginim.Tatoeba #4123716 by duran, translation #4101038 by Hybrid
- Önümüzdeki sunuma hazırlanırken biraz endişeli hissediyorum.I feel a bit nervous while preparing for the upcoming presentation.
- Yeni bir işe başlarken herkes kaygılı hissedebilir.Everyone can feel nervous when starting a new job.
- Dün gece için plan yapınca telaşlandım.I got nervous when making plans for last night.
- Ödevim yüzünden çok endişeliyim.I am very nervous because of my homework.
- Sunumdan önce gerçekten kaygılıyım.I am really nervous before the presentation.
- Yarınki sınav nedeniyle biraz gerildim.I got a bit nervous because of tomorrow's exam.
- 198 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mehmet and Selin are waiting for job interview results.
- MehmetSonuçları beklerken çok gerginim.I am very nervous while waiting for the results.
- SelinSakin ol Mehmet, her şey güzel olacak.Calm down Mehmet, everything will be fine.
- MehmetSen hiç gergin değil misin?Are you not nervous at all?
- SelinBiraz heyecanlıyım ama gergin değilim.I'm a bit excited, but I'm not nervous.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “nervous” translations and entries gergin, endişeli, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries endişeli, gergin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
