How to Say "to worry" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to worry” is “preocuparse” — use 'preocuparse' when you are talking about yourself feeling anxious or stressed about something..
preocuparse
preh-oh-koo-PAHR-seh/pɾeokuˈpaɾse/
Examples
No te preocupes por el dinero, yo lo pago.
Don't worry about the money, I'll pay for it.
Mi madre se preocupa mucho por mi salud.
My mother worries a lot about my health.
Dejó de preocuparse por las cosas pequeñas y se sintió más feliz.
She stopped worrying about the small things and felt happier.
The Reflexive 'Se'
Since this verb ends in '-se', you must always include a matching pronoun (me, te, se, nos, os, se) before the verb. This shows that the person doing the action is also the one receiving the worry.
Using 'Por' for the Topic
When you say what you are worrying about, you almost always use the preposition 'por' (for/about): 'Me preocupo por el futuro' (I worry about the future).
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: “Yo preocupo mi salud.”
Correction: Yo me preocupo por mi salud. (The verb 'preocupar' without 'se' means 'to cause worry to someone else.')
Using the Wrong Preposition
Mistake: “Se preocupa de la prueba.”
Correction: Se preocupa por la prueba. (While 'de' is sometimes used regionally, 'por' is the standard and safest choice for 'about.')
preocupar
/pre-oh-koo-par//pɾeokuˈpaɾ/
Examples
Tu salud me preocupa mucho.
Your health worries me a lot.
No quiero preocupar a mis padres con mis problemas.
I don't want to worry my parents with my problems.
Lo que más preocupa a los expertos es el cambio climático.
What concerns experts the most is climate change.
The 'Gustar' Structure
This verb often works like 'gustar.' If you want to say 'The exam worries me,' you say 'Me preocupa el examen.' The thing that causes the worry is the boss of the sentence.
Worrying Someone Else
When you are the cause of worry for another person, use 'preocupar' directly: 'La noticia preocupó a todos' (The news worried everyone).
Missing the 'a' with people
Mistake: “Preocupo mi madre.”
Correction: Preocupo a mi madre. In Spanish, when a person receives the action directly, we usually put a small 'a' before them.
inquietar
/een-kyeh-TAHR//iŋkjeˈtaɾ/
Examples
Me inquieta que todavía no haya llegado a casa.
It worries me that he hasn't arrived home yet.
Sus palabras inquietaron a todos los presentes.
His words troubled everyone present.
No dejes que los rumores te inquieten.
Don't let the rumors make you uneasy.
Using 'Inquietar' like 'Gustar'
This verb often works by describing what thing is doing the 'worrying' to a person. Instead of saying 'I worry about X,' you say 'X worries me' (Me inquieta X).
Triggering the Subjunctive
When you say 'It worries me that...' (Me inquieta que...), the verb that follows must use the special form for doubt and feelings (the subjunctive mood).
Confusing it with 'Quiet'
Mistake: “Using inquietar to mean 'making someone quiet'.”
Correction: Inquietar means the opposite! The 'in-' prefix means 'not,' so you are taking away someone's quiet/peace.
alarmar
/ah-lahr-MAHR//alaɾˈmaɾ/
Examples
No quiero alarmar a nadie, pero hay una tormenta en camino.
I don't want to alarm anyone, but there is a storm on the way.
Las noticias sobre la economía alarmaron a los inversores.
The news about the economy alarmed the investors.
Su repentino silencio empezó a alarmarme.
His sudden silence began to worry me.
Using the 'Personal A'
Since this word usually describes how you affect a person, remember to use the little word 'a' before the person being alarmed (e.g., 'alarma a mi madre').
Action vs. Feeling
Use 'alarmar' when something causes worry. If you want to say you feel worried yourself, you'll see it as 'alarmarse' (to get alarmed).
Alarmar vs. Alertar
Mistake: “Usar 'alarmar' para un simple aviso sin miedo.”
Correction: Use 'alertar' for a neutral warning and 'alarmar' when there is a sense of fear or panic involved.
Reflexive vs. Non-Reflexive Worry
Related Translations
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