French Conversation · Level 43
75 words
French word
tendu
Pronunciation
IPA/tɑ̃dy/
Meaning
- adjectivetense
Example
Il est tendu.
He is tense.
More examples
Elle était tendue avant le spectacle.
She was tense before the show.
Core concept
A person or scene held tight like a spring, with calm replaced by nervous pressure.
Common phrases
être tendu
be tense
une atmosphère tendue
a tense atmosphere
Similar words
nerveux: Restless and unsettled because of anxiety or nervous tension.
anxieux: Anxious about the future or deeply concerned about the outcome.
stressé: Feeling mentally burdened and exhausted by stressful demands.
agité: Unable to stay calm, with hurried movements or unsettled feelings.
Definition in French
Caractérise une personne ou une situation qui manifeste de la nervosité, de la crispation ou une tension émotionnelle.
Word origin
The adjective tendu comes from the past participle of tendre, ultimately from Latin tendere, 'to stretch', and extends physical tightness to emotional strain.
Usage tips
- With être, tendu agrees with the subject: elle est tendue, ils sont tendus, and elles sont tendues.