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How to Say "i worry" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “i worry” is “preocupo” — use 'preocupo' when you are personally feeling anxious or concerned about something, often a future event or situation..

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preocupo

preh-oh-COO-poh/pɾe.oˈku.po/

VerbA1General
Use 'preocupo' when you are personally feeling anxious or concerned about something, often a future event or situation.
A simple cartoon character sitting alone, holding their chin with a deeply furrowed brow, depicting intense worry or anxiety.

Examples

Me preocupo por mi familia.

I worry about my family.

Me preocupo mucho por mi examen de mañana.

I worry a lot about my exam tomorrow.

Si me preocupo demasiado, no duermo bien.

If I worry too much, I don't sleep well.

No me preocupo por cosas que no puedo controlar.

I don't concern myself with things I can't control.

The Reflexive 'Me'

Since this verb is preocuparse, meaning 'to worry oneself,' you must always use the word 'me' before 'preocupo' to show that you are the one doing the worrying.

Using 'Por' for the Cause

When saying what you are worried about, Spanish usually uses the preposition por (meaning 'for' or 'about'), not acerca de.

Forgetting the 'Me'

Mistake: “Yo preocupo mi trabajo.”

Correction: Yo *me* preocupo *por* mi trabajo. ('Yo preocupo' means 'I worry' someone else, which is usually not what you intend.)

Mixing up the Verb Forms

Mistake: “Me preocupo a mi familia.”

Correction: Me preocupo *por* mi familia. (You worry *about* your family, not *to* them.)

temo

/TEH-moh//ˈte.mo/

VerbA2General
Use 'temo' when you are afraid of something or anticipate a specific negative outcome, often involving fear.
A small, round character, visibly trembling and hugging itself, hiding partially behind a bright yellow curtain with a worried and fearful expression.

Examples

Temo que no apruebe el examen.

I fear that I won't pass the exam.

Temo a las arañas.

I am afraid of spiders.

No temo decir la verdad.

I am not afraid to tell the truth.

Temo que no lleguemos a tiempo.

I fear that we won't arrive on time.

Using 'Temer que' + a Special Verb Form

When you say you fear that something might happen, the verb that follows 'que' changes its ending. This special form is called the subjunctive. For example, 'Temo que llegue tarde' (I fear he/she might arrive late).

Forgetting 'a'

Mistake: “Temo los perros.”

Correction: Temo a los perros. When you fear a specific person or pet, you usually need to add 'a' right after the verb.

Preocupo vs. Temo

Learners often confuse 'preocupo' and 'temo' by using 'temo' for general anxiety. Remember, 'preocupo' is for personal worry and anxiety, while 'temo' implies a stronger sense of fear or dread about a specific negative possibility.

Related Translations

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