German word

Stress

Pronunciation

IPA/ʃtʁɛs/

Meaning

  • masculine nounstress

Example

Ohne eine Pause steigt der Stress.

Without a break, stress levels rise.

Illustration for Stress (stress)

More examples

Bei chronischem Stress leidet oft die Schlafqualität.

With chronic stress, sleep quality often suffers.

Core concept

Pressure keeps building inside a person until body and mind remain tense.

Common phrases

  • Stress abbauen

    relieve stress

  • chronischer Stress

    chronic stress

  • unter Stress stehen

    be under stress

Similar words

Anspannung: A state of pronounced mental or muscular tension.
Druck: Strong pressure or expectations imposed from outside.
Überforderung: Demands that exceed a person's ability or available time.
Belastung: An ongoing burden caused by work or everyday life.

Definition in German

Anhaltende körperliche oder seelische Reaktion auf Druck oder Belastung, oft mit innerer Anspannung.

Word origin

German Stress is borrowed from English stress, which developed through Middle English and Old French estrece from Latin strictus, meaning tightened.

Usage tips

  • The usual expressions are "Stress haben", "unter Stress stehen", and "gestresst sein", not "Ich bin Stress".

Opposites

Related words

  • Stressbewältigungstress managementnoun
  • stressigstressfuladjective
  • stressenstressverb

Word lists with this word