preoccupante

worrying

adjective preh-ok-koo-PAHN-teh Rare

Also means

alarming

Usage Note

Preoccupante is the present participle of preoccupare (to worry), used as an adjective. Like all adjectives ending in -ante/-ente, it is invariable between masculine and feminine (un segnale preoccupante / una situazione preoccupante). It is stronger than problematico — it carries a sense of genuine concern or alarm. The related noun is preoccupazione (f, worry, concern).

Examples

"La situazione economica è molto preoccupante."

Natural Translation

The economic situation is very worrying.

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

Ti Amo vs Ti Voglio Bene: I Love You in Italian

Ti amo is romantic love; ti voglio bene is tender affection for family and close friends. Here's exactly who to say each phrase to in Italian.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

ItalianNow

Most Common Italian Verbs: The 10 That Unlock Speech

Drill these 10 most common Italian verbs first and you unlock past tense, modals, and the progressive — a 7-day plan with every present-tense form to memorize.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

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 Restaurant Etiquette: Mistakes to Avoid

Skip the cappuccino after dinner, never put parmesan on fish, and learn the exact Italian phrases to order gracefully and avoid looking like a tourist.

June 5, 2026 5 min read