adjective
anxious, fearful
B1
ängstlich: adjective meaning 'anxious' or 'fearful'. Describes a person’s emotional state; gradable (comparative ängstlicher, superlative am ängstlichsten). Opposite: mutig. Used attributively or predicatively; follows German declension patterns (strong/weak) depending on the article. Not reflexive; regular adjective formation. Can be intensified with adverbs and often used with 'vor' + Dative to indicate the object of fear.
Examples
Er war vor dem Interview sehr ängstlich.
He was very anxious before the interview.
Das Kind wirkte ängstlich und klammerte sich an seine Mutter.
The child looked fearful and clung to his mother.
Die Patientin war ängstlich, als die Ärztin den Befund erklärte, weil die Nachricht unerwartet gewesen war.
The patient was anxious when the doctor explained the findings because the news had been unexpected.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone clutching their chest and looking worried — a clear image of 'ängstlich'.
Sounds like 'angst-lich' — remember 'angst' = fear, so 'ängstlich' = anxious.