preocuparnos
pre-oh-koo-par-nohs
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
No tenemos por qué preocuparnos ahora.
A2We don't have any reason to worry right now.
Empezamos a preocuparnos cuando no llamaste.
B1We started to get worried when you didn't call.
Debemos preocuparnos más por nuestra salud.
B1We should care more about our health.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'nos' tag
The 'nos' at the end of the word tells us that 'we' are the ones involved in the action. It's like adding the word 'ourselves' to the end of the verb.
When to stick it to the end
You attach 'nos' directly to the verb when it's in its base form (like after words like 'para', 'de', or 'que') or when it follows another verb like 'podemos' or 'queremos'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'nos'
Mistake: "No debemos preocupar por eso."
Correction: No debemos preocuparnos por eso. In Spanish, if you are the one feeling the worry, you must include the 'nos' to show the action reflects back on you.
⭐ Usage Tips
Moving the 'nos'
If 'preocuparnos' follows another verb, you can actually move the 'nos' to the front of the whole phrase: 'Nos queremos preocupar' and 'Queremos preocuparnos' mean the exact same thing!
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: preocuparnos
Question 1 of 1
Which of these is the correct way to say 'We need to worry'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I say 'nos preocupar' instead of 'preocuparnos'?
Not exactly. You can say 'nos podemos preocupar' (putting 'nos' at the very start of a verb pair), but if the verb is standing alone or following a preposition like 'para', the 'nos' must go at the end: 'para preocuparnos'.
What is the difference between preocupar and preocuparnos?
'Preocupar' is the general action of causing worry (like 'That problem worries me'), while 'preocuparnos' specifically means we are worrying ourselves or being concerned together.