teme
/teh-meh/
fears
When someone teme, they are experiencing fear.
teme(Verb)
fears
?He/she/it fears
,is afraid of
?He/she/it is afraid of
dreads
?formal worry
📝 In Action
Mi perro teme los ruidos fuertes, como los fuegos artificiales.
A2My dog fears loud noises, like fireworks.
Usted teme hablar en público, ¿verdad?
B1You (formal) fear speaking in public, right?
Ella teme que su jefe la regañe.
B1She is afraid that her boss might scold her.
💡 Grammar Points
Fearing People or Things
When you fear a specific person or thing, Spanish often uses the preposition 'a' after the verb: 'teme a los perros' (he fears dogs).
Fearing Actions (The Subjunctive Rule)
When 'teme' is followed by 'que' and a second verb, that second verb must use a special form (the subjunctive) because the action is uncertain or desired: 'Teme que llueva' (He fears it will rain).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Wrong Verb Form
Mistake: "Teme que va a llover."
Correction: Teme que vaya a llover. (The action 'llover' is uncertain, so it needs the special 'subjunctive' form: 'vaya' instead of 'va'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Tone
'Temer' is often used in writing or formal speech. In everyday spoken Spanish, people often use the phrase 'tener miedo de' (to have fear of) instead.
Teme can also mean that someone suspects something bad is true, like doubting the contents of a mysterious package.
teme(Verb)
suspects
?He/she/it suspects (that something bad is true)
worries
?Is gravely concerned
📝 In Action
El director teme que la empresa no cumpla los objetivos este trimestre.
B2The director suspects the company won't meet its goals this quarter.
La comunidad teme que el nuevo proyecto dañe el ecosistema local.
C1The community worries that the new project will damage the local ecosystem.
💡 Grammar Points
Formal Worry
In this context, 'teme' means 'is seriously worried' or 'suspects with concern,' often used when discussing politics, business, or serious news.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: teme
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'teme' to express that the subject is afraid of an uncertain future event?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'temer' the most common way to say 'to fear'?
While 'temer' is the direct translation, in casual conversation, Spanish speakers often prefer the phrase 'tener miedo de' (literally 'to have fear of'). 'Temer' is slightly more formal or intense.
How is 'teme' different from 'tiene miedo'?
'Teme' is the verb form (he/she fears). 'Tiene miedo' is a phrase using the verb 'tener' (to have fear). Both mean the same thing, but 'teme' is a single, more concise verb.