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asustando

scaring?the act of frightening someone
Also:frightening?causing a person or animal to feel fear,startling?causing a sudden shock or surprise

ah-soos-TAHN-doh

/asusˈtando/
VerbA2regular ar
neutral
A friendly ghost popping out from behind a large tree to surprise a small, startled cat.

Quick Reference

gerundasustando
past Participleasustado
infinitiveasustar

📝 In Action

Deja de gritar, estás asustando al gato.

A1

Stop screaming, you are scaring the cat.

Me estás asustando con esas historias de fantasmas.

A2

You are frightening me with those ghost stories.

El ruido de los truenos sigue asustando a los niños.

B1

The sound of thunder keeps scaring the children.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • espantando (scaring away)
  • atemorizando (terrifying)

Antonyms

  • tranquilizando (calming)
  • animando (encouraging)

Common Collocations

  • estar asustando – to be scaring
  • seguir asustando – to keep scaring

💡 Grammar Points

The '-ando' ending

This word is the 'action' form of 'asustar.' In Spanish, words ending in '-ando' work just like English words ending in '-ing.' Use it when the scaring is happening right now.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Scaring vs. Feeling Scared

Mistake: “Saying 'Estoy asustando' when you mean 'I am scared.'”

Correction: Use 'asustando' only when YOU are the one making someone else feel fear. If you are the one who feels fear, use 'asustado'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Pair with 'estar'

To say someone 'is scaring' someone else, always use a form of the verb 'estar' (like estoy, estás, está) right before 'asustando'.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesasustaran
yoasustara
túasustaras
vosotrosasustarais
nosotrosasustáramos
él/ella/ustedasustara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesasusten
yoasuste
túasustes
vosotrosasustéis
nosotrosasustemos
él/ella/ustedasuste

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesasustaron
yoasusté
túasustaste
vosotrosasustasteis
nosotrosasustamos
él/ella/ustedasustó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesasustaban
yoasustaba
túasustabas
vosotrosasustabais
nosotrosasustábamos
él/ella/ustedasustaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesasustan
yoasusto
túasustas
vosotrosasustáis
nosotrosasustamos
él/ella/ustedasusta
View All Tenses & Moods →

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: asustando

Question 1 of 1

If you are playing a prank and jump out from behind a door, what are you doing to your friend?

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Word Family

asustar(to scare) - Verb
susto(a fright/scare) - Noun
asustado(scared) - Adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'asustando' and 'asustado'?

'Asustando' means you are the one doing the scaring (active). 'Asustado' means you are the one who feels scared (passive).