How to Say "fright" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “fright” is “susto” — use 'susto' for a sudden, momentary feeling of fear or shock, often caused by something unexpected..
susto
SOOS-toh/ˈsusto/
Examples
¡Qué susto me diste! Pensé que era un ladrón.
What a fright you gave me! I thought it was a thief.
Mi abuela se llevó un susto terrible con la tormenta.
My grandmother got a terrible scare from the storm.
Después del susto, le ofrecí un vaso de agua para calmarla.
After the shock, I offered her a glass of water to calm her down.
Using Susto: Giving and Getting
To say someone gave you a fright, use dar (Me diste un susto). To say you received a fright, the most common verb is llevarse (Me llevé un susto).
Susto vs. Miedo
Mistake: “Using 'Tengo susto' for general fear.”
Correction: *Susto* is for a sudden, temporary shock (like a jump scare). For a general, continuous feeling of fear, use *miedo* ('Tengo miedo').
pánico
Examples
Cuando vio el humo, entró en pánico y no supo qué hacer.
When he saw the smoke, he panicked and didn't know what to do.
Susto vs. Pánico
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