Italian · Body & Health

"Anxiety" in Italian: ansia

l'ansia

Say it: AHN-syahfeminine · l'ansianoun/ˈan.sja/

Anxiety in Italian is l'ansia (AHN-syah), feminine. Ho ansia means I feel anxious. Un attacco di ansia is a panic-style wave of anxiety.

Before an exam

Ho un po' di ansia prima dell'esame.
I have a bit of anxiety before the exam.
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How to pronounce ansia

Say it

AHN-syah

/ˈan.sja/

Ansia: AHN-syah. Soft s, two clear syllables. L'ansia elides the article.

"Anxiety" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
l'ansiaanxiety

The feeling or condition.

ho ansiaI feel anxious

Everyday self-report.

un attacco di ansiaan anxiety attack

Intense short episode.

ansia da prestazioneperformance anxiety

Before a test or talk.

How to use ansia in real life

  1. 1Before an exam

    Ho un po' di ansia prima dell'esame.

    I have a bit of anxiety before the exam.

    Ho + ansia.

  2. 2Doctor visit

    L'ansia mi toglie il sonno da settimane.

    Anxiety has been stealing my sleep for weeks.

    L'ansia as subject.

  3. 3Friend check-in

    Se l'ansia sale, respira piano con me.

    If the anxiety rises, breathe slowly with me.

    L'ansia in advice.

Mistakes English speakers make with ansia

Incorrect: Ho lo ansia.

Correct: Ho l'ansia. / Ho ansia.

Ansia takes l' or often drops the article after ho.

Incorrect: Sono ansia.

Correct: Ho ansia. / Sono ansioso/a.

Ansia is a noun; use ho ansia or the adjective ansioso.

Good to know

Italians talk about ansia casually before flights, dates, and exams—without making it a clinical label every time. Friends may say calmati or andiamo a prendere aria. For ongoing distress, mi sento male and a doctor visit are still the honest path.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Calming nerves before a job interview

  1. ChatPal

    Hai ansia per il colloquio?

    Are you anxious about the interview?

  2. You

    Sì, l'ansia mi fa parlare troppo veloce.

    Yes, anxiety makes me talk too fast.

  3. ChatPal

    Allora ripassiamo piano, senza ansia.

    Then let's review slowly, without anxiety.

  4. You

    Ok. Se l'ansia torna, mi fermo un secondo.

    Ok. If the anxiety returns, I'll pause a second.

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"Anxiety" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Anxiety" in Italian

How do I say I feel anxious?

Ho ansia or sono ansioso/a.

Gender?

Feminine: l'ansia.

Anxiety attack?

Un attacco di ansia.

Is stress the same?

Lo stress overlaps, but ansia is more fear-tinged worry.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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