angst
ANGST
Angst (noun) means a deep, often vague feeling of anxiety or dread, sometimes tied to broader worries about life or meaning. Example: “The novel captures the teenage angst of growing up in a small town.”
noun
1
A deep, often vague feeling of anxiety or dread, sometimes tied to broader worries about life or meaning.
"The novel captures the teenage angst of growing up in a small town."
"He felt a wave of existential angst after losing his job."
How to use angst
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA gnawing sense of anxiety or unease, often about big-picture worries rather than one specific fear.
Common pairings
teenage angst
existential angst
full of angst
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like angst.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- angsts
- Past tense
- angsted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The novel captures the teenage _____ of growing up in a small town.
Etymology
Borrowed from German Angst ("fear, anxiety"), popularized in English through translations of Kierkegaard's philosophy.
Frequently asked questions
What does “angst” mean?
The word “angst” means a deep, often vague feeling of anxiety or dread, sometimes tied to broader worries about life or meaning. In plain terms, a gnawing sense of anxiety or unease, often about big-picture worries rather than one specific fear.
How do you pronounce “angst”?
“Angst” is pronounced ANGST (/ˈeɪ̯ŋ(k)st/ in IPA).
How do you use “angst” in a sentence?
Here is “angst” used in a sentence: “The novel captures the teenage angst of growing up in a small town.”
What part of speech is “angst”?
“Angst” is a noun.
Where does the word “angst” come from?
The word “angst” comes from German. Borrowed from German Angst ("fear, anxiety"), popularized in English through translations of Kierkegaard's philosophy.
Is “angst” a common word?
“Angst” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include angst:
