65 Expressing fear or worry
This chapter considers the concepts of fear and worry and the expressions normally
associated with them. Some of these are set phrases while others vary depending on the
situation.65.1 Common expressions of fear
The idea of being or getting frightened or worried is normally expressed in Spanish with
the following expressionstener miedo‘to be scared/afraid/frightened’
temer‘to be afraid/frightened’, ‘to fear’
estar asustado(a)‘to be scared/afraid/frightened’
asustarse‘to get frightened’
estar preocupado(a)‘to be worried’
preocuparse‘to worry’ 22.2 (p. 105)
Listed below are the main constructions in which some of these expressions can occur.65.1.1 (No) tener miedo
This is the most common way of saying that one is or others are or are not afraid and
of asking people if they are afraid. Note that here ‘to be’, as in ‘to be afraid’, translates in
Spanish as tener, ‘to have’, literally ‘to have fear’.Tengo (mucho) miedo. I’m (very) afraid.
¿Tienes miedo? Are you afraid?
No tengo miedo. I’m not afraid.
No tengas miedo. Don’t be afraid.To say that one was or was not afraid, use the imperfect of tener:Tenía mucho miedo. I was afraid.
No tenía nada de miedo. I was not afraid at all.To say that one got frightened or was afraid with regard to something at some definite
point in the past, use the preterite.¿Y no tuviste miedo?
And didn’t you get frightened?