preocupa
“preocupa” means “worries” in Spanish (when referring to a third person/thing (he, she, it) causing concern).
worries, concerns
Also: fusses
📝 In Action
Me preocupa que no haya comido nada hoy.
B1It worries me that she hasn't eaten anything today.
La crisis económica preocupa a muchas familias.
B2The economic crisis concerns many families.
Él siempre se preocupa demasiado por el trabajo.
A2He always worries too much about work.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: preocupa
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'preocupa' in the 'gustar'-like structure?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
The word comes from the Latin 'praeoccupare,' meaning 'to seize beforehand' or 'to take possession of in advance.' Over time, it evolved to mean 'to take possession of the mind,' leading to the modern sense of 'to worry' or 'to concern oneself with.'
First recorded: Late Middle Ages
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'me preocupa' and 'yo me preocupo'?
They mean different things! 'Me preocupa' means 'IT worries me' (the cause of the worry is the main subject). 'Yo me preocupo' means 'I worry MYSELF' (I am the one performing the action of worrying).