preocupo
preh-oh-COO-poh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Me preocupo mucho por mi examen de mañana.
A1I worry a lot about my exam tomorrow.
Si me preocupo demasiado, no duermo bien.
A2If I worry too much, I don't sleep well.
No me preocupo por cosas que no puedo controlar.
B1I don't concern myself with things I can't control.
💡 Grammar Points
The Reflexive 'Me'
Since this verb is preocuparse, meaning 'to worry oneself,' you must always use the word 'me' before 'preocupo' to show that you are the one doing the worrying.
Using 'Por' for the Cause
When saying what you are worried about, Spanish usually uses the preposition por (meaning 'for' or 'about'), not acerca de.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the 'Me'
Mistake: "Yo preocupo mi trabajo."
Correction: Yo *me* preocupo *por* mi trabajo. ('Yo preocupo' means 'I worry' someone else, which is usually not what you intend.)
Mixing up the Verb Forms
Mistake: "Me preocupo a mi familia."
Correction: Me preocupo *por* mi familia. (You worry *about* your family, not *to* them.)
⭐ Usage Tips
The Non-Reflexive Form
Remember that preocupar (without the 'se') means 'to worry someone else.' Example: 'Tú me preocupas' means 'You worry me.'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: preocupo
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'preocupo' to mean 'I am concerned about the future'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'preocupo' always need the word 'me' in front of it?
Because 'preocupo' comes from the verb *preocuparse*. The 'se' at the end of the infinitive means the action bounces back onto the person doing it—you are worrying yourself. So, 'me preocupo' literally means 'I worry myself,' which we translate simply as 'I worry' or 'I am concerned.'