Translating "anxiety" into German

Almost everyone feels anxious at some point. But "anxiety" is also a tricky word to translate, especially into German. Let's look at what it means in English, how people use it, and why "Angst" doesn't always cover it.

What "anxiety" means

Anxiety is a mix of worry, tension, and nervousness, often with physical signs like a racing heart or cold sweats. It's broader than fear. Fear is usually about something in front of you. Anxiety tends to be about something coming up, or a situation where you don't know how things will turn out.

For example, you might feel anxiety when:

• you have a big exam coming up
• you're waiting to hear back after a job interview
• your child starts school for the first time
• you have to give a presentation next week
• you're moving to a new city or starting a new job

Here's how it looks in a sentence:

• All these deadlines are giving me anxiety.
• He felt a wave of anxiety as he walked onto the stage.
• Her anxiety about the future sometimes kept her awake at night.
• I always get anxious waiting for test results.
• Just thinking about the move makes him anxious.
• She gets anxious every time an unknown number calls her.

One thing to keep in mind: "I have anxiety" usually means someone has an anxiety disorder. For everyday nerves, people say "I'm anxious" or "I'm nervous."

"Anxiety" vs. "Angst"

Most people translate "anxiety" as "Angst." But "Angst" is mostly about fear, so it misses part of what "anxiety" means in English. Depending on the situation, a German speaker might choose a different word:

• Sorge or Sorgen when you're worried about something
• Nervosität when you're nervous, for example before an exam
• Unruhe for that restless, uneasy feeling you can't quite explain
• Angststörung for an anxiety disorder

The mix-up also happens the other way around. Because Angst haben vor means "to be afraid of," German speakers sometimes say things like "I have anxiety of spiders." In English, that's "I'm afraid of spiders" or "I'm scared of spiders." When you're scared of something specific, English uses "afraid" or "scared."

To make things more confusing, English borrowed the word "angst" from German, but it means something different. In English, "angst" is a deep, moody kind of worry about life in general. You'll hear it most in the phrase "teenage angst."

• The album is full of teenage angst.
• His novels are packed with angst about growing older.

There's no single German word that covers everything "anxiety" means, but now you know which one fits when. And if you ever feel anxious yourself, a few slow, deep breaths can help more than you'd expect.

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