aterrar
“aterrar” means “to terrify” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
to terrify
Also: to frighten
📝 In Action
A ella le aterra la idea de volar en avión.
A2The idea of flying in a plane terrifies her.
Sus gritos aterraron a los vecinos durante la noche.
B1Their screams terrified the neighbors during the night.
Me aterra que algo malo pueda pasarle a mi familia.
B2It terrifies me that something bad could happen to my family.
to pull down
Also: to level
📝 In Action
El arquitecto decidió aterrar el viejo muro.
C1The architect decided to pull down the old wall.
Es necesario aterrar el terreno antes de construir.
C1It is necessary to level the ground before building.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: aterrar
Question 1 of 3
Which of these sentences uses 'aterrar' to mean 'to frighten'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The 'to terrify' meaning comes from Latin 'atterrere', where 'ad' (towards) meets 'terrere' (to frighten). The 'to ground' meaning comes from the Spanish prefix 'a-' plus 'tierra' (earth).
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'aterrar' the same as 'aterrizar'?
No. While they share a root related to 'earth', 'aterrizar' is specifically for airplanes or birds landing. 'Aterrar' usually means to terrify someone.
When should I use 'aterrar' instead of 'asustar'?
Use 'aterrar' for extreme horror or nightmares. 'Asustar' is for a simple jump-scare or general fear.
Does 'aterrar' change spelling like 'enterrar' (ie)?
No. Unlike 'enterrar' (to bury), which changes to 'entierro', 'aterrar' stays regular: 'yo aterro'.