Portuguese · Emotions & Descriptions
"Nervous" in Portuguese: nervoso/a
nervoso/a
Nervous in Portuguese is nervoso for masculine and nervosa for feminine. Say estou nervoso/a before a test, date, or talk.
Before an interview
Estou nervoso com a entrevista de amanhã.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nervoso/a
Say it
nehr-VOH-zoo / nehr-VOH-zah
/neʁ.ˈvo.zu/, /neʁ.ˈvo.za/
nehr-VOH-zoo / nehr-VOH-zah.
"Nervous" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nervoso | nervous (masc.) Default masculine. | Default masculine. |
| nervosa | nervous (fem.) Feminine form. | Feminine form. |
| ficar nervoso/a | to get nervous Change of state. | Change of state. |
| nervoso/a com | nervous about Naming the cause. | Naming the cause. |
How to use nervoso/a in real life
- 1Before an interview
Estou nervoso com a entrevista de amanhã.
I'm nervous about tomorrow's interview.
Nervoso com + noun.
- 2A friend before stage
Ela fica nervosa antes de falar em público.
She gets nervous before speaking in public.
Feminine nervosa.
- 3Calming someone
Respira. Não precisa ficar nervoso.
Breathe. You don't need to get nervous.
Ficar nervoso is the process.
Mistakes English speakers make with nervoso/a
Incorrect: Ela está nervoso.
Correct: Ela está nervosa.
Agree gender: nervosa with ela.
Incorrect: Estou nervous demais.
Correct: Estou nervoso/a demais.
Use nervoso/a, not English nervous.
Good to know
Nervoso/a in Brazil covers anxious butterflies more than angry irritation—though tone can tip toward impatience. For pure anxiety, ansioso/a also appears.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting outside an exam room
ChatPal
Você está nervoso para a prova?
Are you nervous for the test?
You
Um pouco nervoso, sim. Estudei a noite toda.
A bit nervous, yes. I studied all night.
ChatPal
Normal ficar nervoso. Você sabe a matéria.
It's normal to get nervous. You know the material.
You
Valeu. Falar com você me deixa menos nervoso.
Thanks. Talking to you makes me less nervous.
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 Portuguese
Do I change for gender?
Yes: nervoso / nervosa.
How do I say get nervous?
Ficar nervoso/a.
Is ansioso the same?
Close. Ansioso/a leans more toward anxious anticipation.
How do I say nervous about…?
Nervoso/a com… or nervoso/a para…
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
