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espantar

es-pahn-TAHR/es.pan.ˈtaɾ/

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

to scare away

Also: to shoo, to frighten
VerbA2regular ar
A person waving their arms to shoo away a group of small birds from a garden path.
gerundespantando
past Participleespantado
infinitiveespantar

📝 In Action

El espantapájaros sirve para espantar a las aves.

A2

The scarecrow is used to scare the birds away.

¡Espanta esa mosca de mi comida!

B1

Shoo that fly away from my food!

Quiero espantar mis dudas antes de decidir.

B2

I want to drive away my doubts before deciding.

Word Connections

Synonyms

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • espantar las moscas – to shoo away flies
  • espantar los miedos – to drive away fears

to astonish

Also: to shock
VerbB2regular ar
A person with wide eyes and raised eyebrows looking at a giant, colorful flower that has grown taller than a house.
gerundespantando
past Participleespantado
infinitiveespantar

📝 In Action

Su falta de modales espanta a cualquiera.

B2

His lack of manners shocks anyone.

La noticia del accidente nos espantó a todos.

C1

The news of the accident shocked us all.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • asombrar (to amaze)
  • escandalizar (to scandalize)

Idioms & Expressions

  • espantar el sueño – to be unable to sleep or to lose sleepiness

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesespantaran
yoespantara
túespantaras
vosotrosespantarais
nosotrosespantáramos
él/ella/ustedespantara

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesespanten
yoespante
túespantes
vosotrosespanteis
nosotrosespantemos
él/ella/ustedespante

indicative

preterite

ellos/ellas/ustedesespantaron
yoespanté
túespantaste
vosotrosespantasteis
nosotrosespantamos
él/ella/ustedespantó

imperfect

ellos/ellas/ustedesespantaban
yoespantaba
túespantabas
vosotrosespantabais
nosotrosespantábamos
él/ella/ustedespantaba

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesespantan
yoespanto
túespantas
vosotrosespantáis
nosotrosespantamos
él/ella/ustedespanta
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "espantar" in Spanish:

to astonish→to frighten→to shock→to shoo→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: espantar

Question 1 of 3

Which verb would you use to wave away a mosquito?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
espanto(fright / ghost) — Noun
espantoso(frightful / horrible) — Adjective
espantapájaros(scarecrow) — Noun
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin word 'expaventare', which means to strike with great fear. It is built from the root 'pavor', meaning dread.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: espantarEnglish: expave (archaic)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'espantar' the same as 'asustar'?

Not exactly. 'Asustar' is just the feeling of being scared. 'Espantar' usually means scaring something so it runs or flies away.

Can I use 'espantar' for people?

Yes, if you mean you are driving them away or if you are deeply shocking them with news.

Is it a common word?

Very common! You will hear it often in the countryside or whenever there are insects around.