Meaning
tense; strained
- nervous or emotionally stressed
- strained, not relaxed
- stretched tight
In a sentence
Prima dell'esame ero molto teso.
Before the exam I was very tense.
Perché sei così tesa oggi?
Why are you so tense today?
In ufficio l'atmosfera non è più tesa.
In the office the atmosphere is no longer tense.
Word forms (4)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| teso | masculine · singular |
| tesa | feminine · singular |
| tesi | masculine · plural |
| tese | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- For feelings, often means nervous or under pressure.
- Common with atmosphere too: un clima teso.
- Do not confuse with intenso; teso suggests strain.