Italian · Emotions & Descriptions
"Nervous" in Italian: agitato/a
agitato/a
Note: note: nervoso/a usually means irritated
Nervous in Italian is often agitato/a (ah-jee-TAH-toh): sono agitato prima dell'esame. Nervoso/a usually means irritated or on edge, not butterflies.
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Sono agitato: ripeto le risposte a voce alta.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce agitato/a
Say it
ah-jee-TAH-toh
/a.dʒiˈta.to/
ah-jee-TAH-toh / ah-jee-TAH-tah. Soft g. Stress on TAH.
"Nervous" in Italian: quick reference
| Italian | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| agitato / agitata | nervous, restless, agitated Before exams, flights, talks. | Before exams, flights, talks. |
| agitati / agitate | nervous (plural) Groups. | Groups. |
| essere agitato | to be nervous State. | State. |
| nervoso / nervosa | irritable; on edge Different nuance—often annoyed. | Different nuance—often annoyed. |
How to use agitato/a in real life
- 1Before an interview
Sono agitato: ripeto le risposte a voce alta.
I'm nervous: I'm rehearsing answers out loud.
Sono agitato.
- 2Waiting room
Lei è agitata ma sorride comunque.
She's nervous but still smiling.
Agitata.
- 3Airport delay
Siamo agitati per il volo incerto.
We're nervous about the uncertain flight.
Agitati.
Mistakes English speakers make with agitato/a
Incorrect: Sono nervoso per l'esame. (wanting 'nervous')
Correct: Sono agitato per l'esame.
Nervoso often reads as irritable. Agitato fits exam butterflies better.
Incorrect: Sono nervous.
Correct: Sono agitato/a.
Use agitato, not English nervous.
Good to know
This false friend trips learners daily. Italians say sono agitato for jitters and sto nervoso when traffic or noise has them snappy. Context and face decide which word lands.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Calming down before a presentation
ChatPal
Sei agitato o solo concentrato?
Are you nervous or just focused?
You
Sono agitato. Mi tremano un po' le mani.
I'm nervous. My hands are shaking a bit.
ChatPal
Respira. Anch'io ero agitata al primo talk.
Breathe. I was nervous too at my first talk.
You
Se resto agitato, cammino due minuti.
If I stay nervous, I'll walk for two minutes.
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 Italian
Why not nervoso?
Nervoso often means irritated. For butterflies, prefer agitato.
How does gender work?
Agitato / agitata; plural agitati / agitate.
Is emozionato the same?
Emozionato is excited/moved; agitato is restless/nervous.
How do I reassure someone?
Stai tranquillo/a; non agitarti.
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
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