How to Say "took fright" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “took fright” is “asustó” — B1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Se asustó cuando vio su propio reflejo en la oscuridad.
He/She got scared when he/she saw his/her own reflection in the dark.
Ella se asustó mucho al ver la película de terror.
She got very frightened watching the horror movie.
Usted se asustó cuando el coche frenó de golpe.
You (formal) were startled when the car suddenly braked.
The 'Se' Particle
When you use 'asustó' with the pronoun 'se' (se asustó), the meaning changes from scaring someone else to getting scared yourself. It shows the subject experiencing the action.
Forgetting the 'Se'
Mistake: “Dije 'Yo asusté' cuando quiero decir 'I got scared.'”
Correction: You must say 'Yo me asusté.' If you say 'Yo asusté,' it means 'I scared someone else.'
Related Translations
Learn Spanish with Inklingo
Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.