nervoso

nervous

adjective ner-VOH-zoh Rare

Origin: Latin nervosus (sinewy), from nervus (sinew, nerve).

Also means

irritable

Usage Note

Nervoso can mean anxious/nervous or simply irritable and short-tempered — context decides. Dare sui nervi (to get on one's nerves) and dare fastidio are common idioms. Be aware that in older or medical Italian nervoso could mean 'sinewy' or 'of the nervous system,' though the emotional sense now dominates in everyday speech.

Examples

"Sono nervoso prima dell'esame."

Natural Translation

I am nervous before the exam.

Free starter pack

Building your Italian vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Italian words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Italian by topic

ItalianNow

Italian Articles: Il, Lo, La, I, Gli, Le Explained

Italian has seven words for 'the' — il, lo, la, i, gli, le — but it's two questions, not seven cases. Master gender, sound, and the lo/gli rule fast.

June 5, 2026 7 min read

ItalianNow

Italian Noun Gender: Rules, Endings & Exceptions

Italian noun gender decoded: -o is usually masculine, -a feminine, but -zione and -tà are feminine, -ore and -ma masculine. Plus the trap words to memorize.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Buongiorno, Ciao or Salve? Italian Greetings Made Easy

When in doubt, say salve and mirror the reply. Here's how to pick between buongiorno, buonasera, ciao and salve so your Italian greetings never sound rude.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Essential Italian Travel Phrases (With Vorrei)

Vorrei means I would like — the politest, most useful Italian travel phrase. Learn five reusable frames to order, ask prices, and find your way in Italy.

June 5, 2026 5 min read