A friendly ghost popping out from behind a large tree to surprise a small, startled cat.

asustando

ah-soos-TAHN-doh

verbA2regular ar

scaring?the act of frightening someone

Also:frightening?causing a person or animal to feel fear,startling?causing a sudden shock or surprise

Quick Reference

gerundasustando

past Participleasustado

infinitiveasustar

📝 In Action

Deja de gritar, estás asustando al gato.

Stop screaming, you are scaring the cat.

Me estás asustando con esas historias de fantasmas.

You are frightening me with those ghost stories.

El ruido de los truenos sigue asustando a los niños.

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?

📚 More Resources

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).