Angst

/aΕ‹st/
nounβ˜…Intermediate
formal

Fear or anxiety, often intense or irrational

Sie hat große Angst vor Spinnen.

She has a great fear of spiders.

Die Angst vor dem Unbekannten ist menschlich.

Fear of the unknown is human.

πŸ’‘

In German, 'Angst' is often used to describe a more profound or existential fear compared to the English 'fear' or 'anxiety'.

Collocations

Angst haben vorto be afraid ofAngst machento scare someone

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

Angst essen Seele aufproverb
Fear eats the soul

πŸ’‘Pro Tip

Capitalization

Remember that 'Angst' is always capitalized in German, as all nouns are.

⚑Gold Rule

Context Matters

In German, 'Angst' can be used in both casual and philosophical contexts, but it often carries a stronger emotional weight than the English 'fear'.

πŸ“–Word Origin

From Old High German 'angust', meaning 'narrowness' or 'distress', related to the feeling of being constricted or oppressed.

πŸ“Usage Notes

'Angst' is a common noun in German and is always capitalized. It can refer to both everyday fears and deeper existential anxieties.

Word Breakdown

Angst
fear or anxiety
root
✎ Noted on May 2, 2026DE β†’ EN