asustado
/asusˈtado/
The Spanish word for scared is asustado.
Asustado is used to describe a state of being afraid or frightened. It often implies that a person has been startled or frightened by a specific event.
Meaning: afraid, frightened (adj)
Which one should you use?
While asustado specifically describes being startled or frightened by something, the phrase tener miedo is used more generally to express the broader feeling of fear.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In several Latin American countries, the informal term cagado/a is used to mean scared or terrified.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, asustado must agree in gender and number with the person or people being described. Use asustada for a female, asustados for a group of males or a mixed-gender group and asustadas for a group of females.
How do you pronounce it?
/asusˈtado/
What mistakes should you avoid?
To express a general feeling of being afraid, Spanish speakers frequently use the phrase tener miedo instead of relying solely on the adjective asustado.
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, the word susto refers to a specific cultural syndrome where a sudden fright is believed to cause physical illness by displacing the soul.
- The informal term cagado is derived from the word for 'defecating', reflecting a visceral physical reaction to extreme terror.
- If you want to say you are 'scared stiff' or 'scared to death' in a more visceral way, some Spanish speakers use the phrase morirse de miedo.
Examples in context
- Yo me sentí asustado.I felt scared.This sentence uses asustado to describe a felt state of being scared.Tatoeba #4592750 by Francisco_M, translation #2326224 by CK
- Tom se veía asustado.Tom looked scared.This sentence uses asustado to describe how someone looked when they were scared.Tatoeba #4986569 by cueyayotl, translation #4500807 by CK
- Estuve un poco asustado.I was a little bit scared.This sentence uses asustado to describe being a little bit scared.Tatoeba #5217088 by Elyte, translation #5216754 by CK
- Estoy asustada porque vi una arañaI am scared because I saw a spider
- Estoy asustado de hablar en públicoI am scared of speaking in public
- Me siento asustada cuando veo películas de terrorI feel scared when I watch horror movies
- Tengo miedo de los payasosI am scared of clowns
- Me da miedo volar en avionesFlying in airplanes scares me
- ¿Tienes miedo de las películas de terror?Are you scared of horror movies?
- 36 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and Elena are watching a horror movie.
- AlejandroEstoy muy asustado con esta película.I am very scared with this movie.
- ElenaNo estés asustado, es solo una película.Don't be scared, it is just a movie.
- AlejandroPero el monstruo da miedo.But the monster is scary.
- ElenaToma mi mano si estás asustado.Take my hand if you are scared.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “scared” translations and entries asustado, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
