How to Say "frightened" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “frightened” is “asustada” — use 'asustada' when describing someone (specifically female) who is feeling scared or frightened..
asustada
/ah-soos-TAH-dah//asuˈstaða/
Examples
La niña estaba asustada por la tormenta.
The girl was frightened by the storm.
Mi hermana estaba asustada por la película de terror.
My sister was scared by the horror movie.
La perrita se escondió porque estaba muy asustada.
The little dog hid because she was very frightened.
¿Estás asustada? No te preocupes, yo estoy aquí.
Are you scared? Don't worry, I'm here.
Gender Agreement
This word is an adjective, so it must match the gender of the person or thing it describes. Use 'asustada' only for feminine nouns (like 'chica,' 'mujer,' 'perra').
Temporary State (Estar)
When describing feelings or temporary emotional states like being scared, you almost always use the verb 'estar' (to be) with 'asustada' (e.g., 'Ella está asustada').
Forgetting Agreement
Mistake: “La niña estaba asustado.”
Correction: La niña estaba asustada. (The ending must match the feminine subject 'niña'.)
Using Ser Instead of Estar
Mistake: “Ella es asustada.”
Correction: Ella está asustada. (Being scared is a temporary feeling, not a permanent characteristic, so use 'estar'.)
asustó
Examples
El ruido fuerte asustó al perro.
The loud noise frightened the dog.
Adjective vs. Verb Confusion
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