how to say “nervous” in Hebrew

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-1.m4a” /]עַצְבָּנִי

The Hebrew word for nerve is עצב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-2.m4a” /]. This three-letter word gives rise to other related words, including עצבות[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-3.m4a” /] and עצב[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-4.m4a” /] – both sadness, and עצבני[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-1.m4a” /] – nervous or irritated.

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-5.m4a” /]היא עצבנית היום – לא מומלץ לבקש ממנה טובות.

She’s nervous today – it’s better not (not recommended) to ask her for favors.

In verb form, we have the active-intensive to annoy (to make nervous) – לעצבן[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-6.m4a” /], and the reflexive-intensive to get annoyed, nervous, irritated – להתעצבן[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-7.m4a” /].

For example:

[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-8.m4a” /]אם תעצבן אותו, הוא יתעצבן, ואתה תתחרט.

If you (a male) annoy him, he’ll get irritated, and you’ll regret it.

Synonyms of לעצבן and להתעצבן are להרגיז[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-9.m4a” /] and להתרגז[audioclip url=”https://archive.ulpan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/עצבני-10.m4a” /], respectively.