Spanish word

nerviosismo

Pronunciation

IPA/neɾβjoˈsismo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounnervousness

Example

Siento nerviosismo antes de la entrevista.

I feel nervousness before the interview.

Illustration for nerviosismo (nervousness)

More examples

Controlar el nerviosismo durante una presentación es difícil.

Controlling nervousness during a presentation is difficult.

Core concept

Shaky hands and a racing heart before a stressful event.

Common phrases

  • sentir nerviosismo

    feeling nervousness

  • tener nerviosismo

    having nervousness

  • controlar el nerviosismo

    controlling nervousness

Similar words

nervios: Brief physical jitters before something, like trembling hands, a shaky voice, and restlessness.
ansiedad: Strong, future-focused anxiety that tightens the chest and causes persistent distress.
tensión: Sustained bodily and mental tightness that keeps a person wound up and unable to relax.
preocupación: Ongoing worry about a particular matter that keeps the mind preoccupied and uneasy.

Definition in Spanish

Estado de inquietud y tensión física y emocional ante una situación concreta que provoca nervios o agitación.

Word origin

From Spanish nervio 'nerve' plus the suffix -ismo, ultimately from Latin nervus, forming a noun that denotes a state of heightened nerves.

Usage tips

  • Everyday Spanish commonly uses poner(se) nervioso/a or tener nervios for brief nervousness, while nerviosismo is more typical in formal or descriptive contexts.

Other meanings

  • anxietynoun
  • agitationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • nerviosonervousadjective
  • nerviosamentenervouslyadverb
  • nerviosidadnervousnessnoun

Word lists with this word