German · Emotions & Descriptions
"Nervous" in German: nervös
nervös
Nervous in German is nervös. Say Ich bin nervös vor der Prüfung. Lampenfieber is stage fright, a related idea.
Before an exam
Vor Klausuren bin ich immer nervös.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nervös
Say it
ner-VÖSS
/nɛʁˈvøːs/
ner-VÖSS. Stress -vös. Ö like e in "her" with rounded lips.
"Nervous" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nervös | nervous Default adjective. | Default adjective. |
| Lampenfieber | stage fright Performance nerves. | Performance nerves. |
| aufgeregt | excited / worked up Nearby feeling. | Nearby feeling. |
| nervös vor | nervous about/before Preposition vor. | Preposition vor. |
How to use nervös in real life
- 1Before an exam
Vor Klausuren bin ich immer nervös.
Before exams I'm always nervous.
Nervös after bin.
- 2First date
Sei nicht so nervös—du bist super.
Don't be so nervous—you're great.
Sei + nervös.
- 3Waiting room
Er wirkt nervös und läuft auf und ab.
He seems nervous and paces up and down.
Wirkt nervös.
Mistakes English speakers make with nervös
Incorrect: Ich bin nervous.
Correct: Ich bin nervös.
Use nervös with ö.
Incorrect: nervös auf den Test
Correct: nervös vor dem Test
Nervös vor + dative is usual.
Good to know
Germans admit nervös freely before tests and talks. Lampenfieber is reserved more for stage or spotlight moments.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Before a presentation
ChatPal
Bist du nervös wegen des Vortrags?
Are you nervous about the talk?
You
Ja, richtig nervös. Meine Stimme zittert.
Yes, really nervous. My voice is shaking.
ChatPal
Atme tief—dann wirst du weniger nervös.
Breathe deeply—then you'll be less nervous.
You
Versuch ich. Danke, dass du meine nervöse Panik kennst.
I'll try. Thanks for knowing my nervous panic.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Nervous" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Nervous" in German
How do you spell nervös?
With ö: nervös.
What preposition follows nervös?
Often vor: nervös vor der Prüfung.
What is Lampenfieber?
Stage fright.
How do you say don't be nervous?
Sei nicht nervös.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
