alarmar
“alarmar” means “to alarm” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to alarm
Also: to worry, to frighten
📝 In Action
No quiero alarmar a nadie, pero hay una tormenta en camino.
B1I don't want to alarm anyone, but there is a storm on the way.
Las noticias sobre la economía alarmaron a los inversores.
B2The news about the economy alarmed the investors.
Su repentino silencio empezó a alarmarme.
B1His sudden silence began to worry me.
to alert
📝 In Action
El centinela alarmó a la tropa al ver el humo.
C1The sentry alerted the troops upon seeing the smoke.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: alarmar
Question 1 of 3
Which of the following is the most natural way to say 'The news worried me'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Derived from the Spanish noun 'alarma', which comes from the old military cry '¡al arma!' (to arms!), meaning 'pick up your weapons!'
First recorded: 17th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'alarmar' always a bad thing?
Usually, yes. It implies a degree of worry, fear, or panic. If you just want to give a helpful heads-up, 'avisar' or 'informar' are better choices.
How do I say 'I am alarmed'?
You would use the verb 'estar' + 'alarmado' (e.g., 'Estoy alarmado').
Can I use 'alarmar' for a clock alarm?
No. For a clock, we use the noun 'alarma' (poner la alarma) or 'sonar' (la alarma suena). 'Alarmar' is specifically the verb for causing worry.