French word

angoisse

Pronunciation

IPA/ɑ̃gwas/

Meaning

  • feminine nounanxiety

Example

Elle souffre d'angoisse la nuit.

She suffers from anxiety at night.

Illustration for angoisse (anxiety)

More examples

Je ressens une légère angoisse avant un examen.

I experience slight anxiety before an exam.

Core concept

A mind-and-body alarm felt like being trapped in a narrow space, powerful enough to interrupt everyday functioning.

Common phrases

  • crise d'angoisse

    anxiety attack

  • angoisse sociale

    social anxiety

  • avoir de l'angoisse

    feel anxious

Similar words

anxiété: Persistent, intense worry and tension, sometimes accompanied by a racing heart or insomnia.
inquiétude: Ongoing unease about what may happen or about a troubling event.
peur: A powerful fear that arises suddenly when danger or a threat is perceived.
panique: A sudden surge of extreme fear that causes loss of control and confused actions.

Definition in French

État d'inquiétude très intense et envahissant, souvent soudain, qui gêne le fonctionnement habituel et peut s'accompagner de signes physiques.

Word origin

Angoisse comes from Old French anguisse and ultimately from Latin angustia, 'narrowness', from angustus, 'narrow'.

Usage tips

  • Angoisse is stronger and more engulfing than ordinary inquiétude and often refers to distress with bodily symptoms.

Other meanings

  • worrynoun
  • fearnoun
  • anguishnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word