ahuyentar

ah-wen-TAR/awjenˈtaɾ/

“ahuyentar” means “to scare away” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:

to scare away🔊B1Verb

animals or people

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to dispel🔊B2Verb

doubts, fears, or thoughts

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to scare away

Also: to drive away, to frighten off

VerbB1regular ar

A small bird flying away from a person waving their arms.

gerundahuyentando

past Participleahuyentado

infinitiveahuyentar

📝 In Action

El espantapájaros sirve para ahuyentar a los cuervos.

The scarecrow is used to scare away the crows.

Usamos humo para ahuyentar a los mosquitos durante la cena.

We used smoke to drive away the mosquitoes during dinner.

La policía llegó para ahuyentar a los vándalos de la plaza.

The police arrived to frighten off the vandals from the square.

Word Connections

Synonyms

espantar (to scare off)
alejar (to move something away)

Antonyms

atraer (to attract)
llamar (to call/invite)

Common Collocations

ahuyentar a las moscas – to shoo away flies
ahuyentar el peligro – to ward off danger

to dispel

Also: to banish

VerbB2regular arformal

A bright sun shining through dark clouds to reveal a clear path.

gerundahuyentando

past Participleahuyentado

infinitiveahuyentar

📝 In Action

Sus palabras lograron ahuyentar mis dudas.

His words managed to dispel my doubts.

Necesito música para ahuyentar la tristeza.

I need music to banish the sadness.

La luz del sol ahuyentó las sombras de la habitación.

The sunlight drove away the shadows from the room.

Word Connections

Synonyms

disipar (to dissipate/dispel)
eliminar (to eliminate)

Antonyms

provocar (to provoke/cause)
fomentar (to encourage/foment)

Common Collocations

ahuyentar los miedos – to dispel fears
ahuyentar los malos pensamientos – to drive away bad thoughts

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesahuyentaran

yoahuyentara

túahuyentaras

vosotrosahuyentarais

nosotrosahuyentáramos

él/ella/ustedahuyentara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesahuyenten

yoahuyente

túahuyentes

vosotrosahuyentéis

nosotrosahuyentemos

él/ella/ustedahuyente

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesahuyentaron

yoahuyenté

túahuyentaste

vosotrosahuyentasteis

nosotrosahuyentamos

él/ella/ustedahuyentó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesahuyentaban

yoahuyentaba

túahuyentabas

vosotrosahuyentabais

nosotrosahuyentábamos

él/ella/ustedahuyentaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesahuyentan

yoahuyento

túahuyentas

vosotrosahuyentáis

nosotrosahuyentamos

él/ella/ustedahuyenta

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Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ahuyentar" in Spanish:

to banish→to dispel→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ahuyentar

Question 1 of 3

Which sentence is the best use of 'ahuyentar' in a literal sense?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼

huir(to flee) — Verb

ahuyentador(repeller / something that scares things away) — Noun

huida(escape/flight) — Noun

🎵 Rhymes▼

cantar lugar azar

📚 Etymology▼

From the Spanish prefix 'a-' (indicating movement or action) combined with 'huyentar,' a variation of the verb 'huir' (to flee/run away). Ultimately from Latin 'fugere'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: afugentar

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ahuyentar' the same as 'asustar'?

Not exactly. 'Asustar' means to scare someone (they might stay where they are). 'Ahuyentar' means to scare them *so that they leave*.

Is it a common word?

Yes, especially in the context of gardening, pest control, or literature where characters dispel their fears.

How do you pronounce the 'uy' part?

It sounds like 'wen' in the English word 'went,' but with a soft 'u' start: /ah-wen-tar/.