Excitées

Question

I thought this word suggested sexual arousal and would not be appropriate in this situation.  Is there an alternative word that would normally be used instead?

Accepted Answer

Hi Sean,
No, you can use 'excité' quite safely to describe a state of nerves but it all depends on the context. 
You could even add 'tout' to convey a high level of nervous excitement. 
Elle était toute excitée à l'idée d'aller vivre au Japon = She was very excited by the idea of going to live in Japan
We talk of people being, 'surexcité' ( over-excited).
You could use the alternatives :
impatient à l'idée de 
or
enthousiaste 
but the image they convey is not as strong as excité.
Hope this helps!

Answer

Thanks.

Answer

I have been told the same. Would "enthousiastes" be better?

Answer

Hi Jay,
I wouldn't  say that 'enthousiastes' is better , it is just another way of expressing the same thing,  it tones the excitement down but if you feel more comfortable using it, do so...

Answer

Personally I think this is a real howler! Women, horses and sex equals exciter.

Answer

Do you have an example of when it would been seen as having a sexual connotation? (Other than the obvious of course!) Because I had someone react to me when I was saying this about something entirely different. Is it when you just say it on its own maybe? Like: 'Je suis tellement excitée?' Like in English I might say I'm so excited! But not explain why because that should be explicit by the situation.

Answer

Hi Deirdre,
I am afraid that some people just have a dirty mind and it is not something you have any control over.
You could say :

J'ai hâte de faire quelque chose = for to be eager to do something 
J'attends (quelque chose/ quelqu'un) avec impatience = I can't wait for something to happen

Hope this helps!

Answer

I guess this could be likened to the use of the word 'erection' in English. The erection of the tent, the building etc.....but, be honest, the phrase 'It was an enormous erection' just MAY conjure up a different image....(Even my spell-check has a dirty mind as it corrected it to 'elections'!!)