Angst refers to a deep, often generalized feeling of anxiety or dread, typically about the human condition or personal circumstances. It conveys a mood of unease more than a specific fear, and is commonly used in psychological or literary contexts. In everyday use, it can describe existential worry or adolescent discomfort about life’s uncertainties.
"- After the exam, he confessed his angst about not living up to expectations."
"- The film captures urban angst; you can feel the characters’ restless energy."
"- She spoke with quiet angst about the future of the project."
"- His angst was palpable, a mix of frustration and longing that was hard to pin down."
Angst is borrowed from German, where the word itself means fear, anxiety, or distress. In German, angst is a noun formed from the root angst- (fear) with the standard German noun suffix -t, and often accompanied by the verb sein in constructions like Angst haben (to be afraid). The word entered English in the early 20th century, initially used in scholarly or literary contexts to convey a mood of existential anxiety aligned with German philosophy and psychology. Over time, it became more colloquial in English-language discourse, particularly in discussions of adolescence, modern urban life, and cultural criticism. The term is sometimes used with a slightly elevated tone to express a kind of paralyzing worry that is more diffuse than a specific phobia. Although rooted in German, the English pronunciation and usage have adapted to English phonology and idiomatic patterns, with primary stress on the first syllable, and a short a and a soft
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Words that rhyme with "Angst"
-ank sounds
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Pronounce ANGST as /æŋkst/ in US and UK phonology (one syllable). Start with a short open-front unrounded vowel /æ/, then the nasal /ŋ/ as in “sing,” followed by /k/ (a hard, aspirated stop), and end with /st/ (an /s/ immediately before a clear /t/). Mouth position: open jaw for /æ/, soft palate up for nasal /ŋ/, then rapid transition to a strong /k/ and a voiceless /t/. Audio references: you’ll hear it as a crisp, clipped single syllable, with no vowel between /ŋ/ and /kst/ blend.
Two common errors: (1) pronouncing it as ‘angst’ with a long vowel or with a separate /ə/ before /ŋkst/, which dilutes the compact one-syllable rhythm. (2) Softening /t/ or releasing it too slowly, turning it into a weak end consonant cluster. Correction: maintain a crisp /æ/ then immediately execute the nasal /ŋ/ and the /kst/ cluster without vowel insertion, keeping the final consonants together. Practice by saying ‘hangs + kst’ quickly, but without inserting extra vowels.
In US and UK, ANGST is a tight, one-syllable /æŋkst/. US tends to be slightly harder with /æ/ and a clear /t/ release, while UK may exhibit a slightly shorter vowel duration before the /ŋ/ and a crisper /t/. Australian English generally matches the /æŋkst/ pattern but may show a marginally more centralized /æ/ and a flatter intonation, given broader vowel space. All share the same consonant sequence, but vowel quality and tongue height vary subtly.
The difficulty lies in the compact consonant cluster /ŋkst/ and its blunt vowel /æ/. The /ŋ/ requires keeping the tongue body raised toward the palate while transitioning rapidly into the /k/ and /st/ without inserting a vowel. The /t/ release after /s/ can blend in some speakers into an audible /ts/ or a silent stop if not careful. Achieve accuracy with a rapid, uninterrupted chain of articulations, starting from /æ/ to /ŋ/ to /kst/.
Angst contains a consonant cluster rather than silent letters; the challenge is the abrupt sequence /æŋkst/. There is no vowel between /ŋ/ and /k/; the transition should be immediate. The /t/ can be unreleased or released depending on speaker style, but most natural English realizations maintain a short, crisp /t/ followed by the /s/. IPA reflects the tightly bound end: /æŋkst/.
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