metuens
The English word 'scared' can be translated into Latin as metuens or timidus.
Meaning: afraid, frightened (adj)
Ways to say it
| Latin | IPA |
|---|---|
| metuens | |
| timidus | [ˈtɪ.mɪ.dʊs] (Classical Latin, narrow) [ˈtiː.mi.dus] (narrow) |
Both words describe a sense of being afraid, but they are used in different contexts depending on whether you are describing a temporary feeling or a person's character.
Which one should you use?
metuens describes someone actively experiencing the feeling of fear or being in a state of dread, often translated as 'fearing'. In contrast, timidus describes a person's character trait of being timid or easily frightened rather than a temporary state of being scared.
How does it change in a sentence?
timidus is a standard adjective that must agree in gender, number and case with the noun it modifies.
Did you know?
- In Roman culture, showing too much timidus behavior was often seen as a failure of 'virtus', which meant more than just 'virtue' and included courage and manliness.
- The English word 'timid' is a direct descendant of the Latin timidus, making the two words nearly identical in meaning and structure.
- In Latin poetry, the feeling of being metuens is often paired with 'tremere', the act of shaking, to create a physical image of fear for the reader.
Examples in context
- Da mihi auxilium, timeo et sum territus.Give me help, I'm scared and frightened.
- Metuebam exire ex domo.I was scared to leave the house.
- Noli esse timidus!Don't be scared!
- Canis metuens sub mensa latuit.The scared dog hid under the table.
Example conversation
Lucius and Aurelia are entering a dark cave.
- LuciusCur times, Aurelia?Why are you scared, Aurelia?
- AureliaTenebras timeo.I am scared of the darkness.
- LuciusNoli metuere, ego te protegam.Do not be afraid, I protect you.
- AureliaGratias tibi, Luci.Thank you, Lucius.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scared” translations and entries metuens, timidus, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries metuens, timidus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
