How to Say "frighten" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “frighten” is “asustes” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
English → SpanishA2
verbA2
a slightly more formal way to say scare
Examples
No quiero que te asustes con la noticia.
I don't want you to get scared by the news.
No te asustes, soy solo yo.
Don't be scared, it's just me.
Espero que no asustes al gato con ese ruido.
I hope you don't scare the cat with that noise.
The 'No' Rule
When you tell someone NOT to do something (a negative command), the verb ending swaps. Since 'asustar' is an -ar verb, it uses -es for the 'you' form: 'No te asustes'.
Expressing Feelings
Use 'asustes' after phrases like 'I hope that...' (Espero que...) or 'I don't want you to...' (No quiero que...).
Asustas vs. Asustes
Mistake: “No te asustas.”
Correction: No te asustes.
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.