Spanish Conversation · Level 159
30 words
Spanish word
tenso
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈtenso/
Meaning
- adjectivenervous
Example
Estoy tenso antes del examen.
I am nervous before the exam.
More examples
El ambiente estaba tenso durante la reunión.
The atmosphere was tense during the meeting.
Core concept
Taut muscles, like hunched shoulders and a clenched jaw.
Common phrases
estar tenso
be nervous
ponerse tenso
become nervous
ambiente tenso
tense atmosphere
Similar words
nervioso: Mind or body show anxious agitation with visible jitteriness or restlessness.
ansioso: Mind feels uneasy and worried about an upcoming event or outcome.
preocupado: Mind worries about specific problems and possible bad consequences.
inquieto: Body cannot stay still, showing restless fidgeting and inner agitation.
Definition in Spanish
Que siente o muestra una sensación de nerviosismo o presión, tanto física como mental, por ejemplo antes de una prueba o un conflicto.
Word origin
From Latin tensus, the past participle of tendere 'to stretch', originally meaning 'stretched' and later used for muscles and minds held tight.
Usage tips
- Spanish uses estar tenso for a person's physical or mental tightness and ambiente tenso for a strained situation, while nervioso tends to emphasize anxiety or agitation.