How to Say "fears" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “fears” is “miedos” — use 'miedos' when referring to the plural concept of things that cause fright or alarm, or general anxieties..
miedos
/myeh-dohs//ˈmjeðos/
Examples
Todos tenemos nuestros propios miedos.
We all have our own fears.
Ella superó sus miedos y habló en público.
She overcame her fears and spoke in public.
No dejes que tus miedos controlen tu vida.
Don't let your fears control your life.
Making it Plural
To turn the word for fear (miedo) into 'fears' (miedos), you simply add an 's' to the end because it ends in a vowel.
Using 'The' with Miedos
Because this word is masculine and plural, you should use 'los' (the) or 'unos' (some) before it.
Singular vs Plural
Mistake: “Using 'miedo' when you are talking about several different types of scary things.”
Correction: Use 'miedos' when you want to emphasize a variety of worries or anxieties rather than just the general feeling of being afraid.
teme
/teh-meh//ˈt̪e.me/
Examples
Mi perro teme los ruidos fuertes, como los fuegos artificiales.
My dog fears loud noises, like fireworks.
Usted teme hablar en público, ¿verdad?
You (formal) fear speaking in public, right?
Ella teme que su jefe la regañe.
She is afraid that her boss might scold her.
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).
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'.)
Noun vs. Verb Confusion
Related Translations
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