adjective
excited, tense
B1
Gespannt is a participial adjective from spannen meaning excited/anticipatory and tense/tightly stretched. Common collocation: gespannt sein auf + Akk (to be excited about). It is gradable: comparative gespannter, superlative am gespanntesten. As participle-derived adjective it describes state, not completed action.
Examples
Die Zuschauer waren gespannt, weil das Endspiel sehr knapp und unvorhersehbar verlief.
The spectators were tense because the final was very close and unpredictable.
Ich bin gespannt auf das Konzert nächste Woche.
I'm excited about the concert next week.
Die Stimmung im Raum war gespannt, bevor die Verhandlung begann.
The atmosphere in the room was tense before the negotiation began.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone on the edge of their seat, leaning forward with wide eyes — that image captures 'gespannt'.
Sounds like 'gasp-unt' — imagine someone gasping in anticipation to remember the 'excited' sense.
Notes
Gespannt is the past participle of spannen used as an adjective. It can mean 'excited/eager' (gespannt auf + Akk.) or 'tense' (describing atmosphere or people).