excitement / commotion
Loading your saved state.
excitement
A state of strong emotional tension triggered by an upcoming event, which can be positive (anticipation) or negative (nervousness, fear).
Vor der Prüfung war die Aufregung im ganzen Raum spürbar.
Before the exam, the excitement was noticeable throughout the room.
commotion
A state of unrest, bustle, or public interest caused by a particular event or piece of news.
Der plötzliche Stromausfall sorgte für große Aufregung in der Stadt.
The sudden power outage caused great commotion in the city.
'Aufregung' belongs to the word family of 'aufregen'. The verb 'sich aufregen' means to become emotionally worked up or angry. The adjective 'aufgeregt' describes the state someone is in.
Reg dich nicht so auf, es ist alles in Ordnung!
Don't get so worked up; everything is fine!
The meaning depends on the context. If the 'Aufregung' (excitement) refers to an individual person and their inner feeling (often with 'vor'), it means nervousness or anticipation. If it refers to a public event (often with 'um'), it means general unrest or a commotion.
Vor seinem ersten Auftritt zitterte er vor Aufregung.
Before his first performance, he was trembling with excitement.
To express the reason for a strong emotional or physical reaction, 'Aufregung' is often used with the preposition 'vor' (+ dative). Typical phrases are 'vor Aufregung zittern' (to tremble with excitement), 'vor Aufregung rot werden' (to turn red with excitement), or 'vor Aufregung kaum sprechen können' (to hardly be able to speak because of excitement).
Sie konnte vor lauter Aufregung die ganze Nacht nicht schlafen.
She couldn't sleep all night because of all the excitement.
When referring to public unrest, 'Aufregung' is often combined with the verb 'sorgen für' (to cause). A piece of news or an event 'sorgt für große Aufregung' (causes great commotion).
Die Entscheidung des Politikers sorgte landesweit für Aufregung.
The politician's decision caused a stir across the country.
tension / suspense / voltage
Spannung concerns how an open situation will turn out. Aufregung, on the other hand, refers to a person's strong emotional reaction, such as happiness or nervousness. Both can be present at the same time when a film has a close ending: the film creates Spannung, while the viewer experiences Aufregung.
Kurz vor demselben Filmende spürt Nina starke Aufregung, weil sie um die Hauptfigur bangt.
Just before the same film ending, Nina feels intense excitement because she is worried about the main character.
Kurz vor dem Filmende steigt die Spannung, weil der Ausgang noch offen ist.
The suspense rises just before the film ends because the outcome is still uncertain.
