tener miedo
Lemma Details
Translation: to be afraid; to fear; to be scared
Part of Speech: phrase
Etymology: This phrase combines 'tener' (to have) from Latin 'tenere' (to hold, keep, possess) and 'miedo' from Latin 'metus' (fear). The construction follows a common Spanish pattern of expressing emotions as things one 'has' rather than states one 'is in', contrasting with English which typically uses 'to be' with emotions.
Commonality: 90%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Mnemonics
- Think of 'tener miedo' as 'to have fear' - you're holding fear in your possession.
- The word 'miedo' sounds a bit like 'meteor' - imagine being afraid of a meteor hitting Earth.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This is one of the most common ways to express fear in Spanish. Unlike English, which uses 'to be afraid', Spanish conceptualizes fear as something one possesses ('to have fear'). This reflects a broader pattern in Spanish where emotional states are often expressed with 'tener' + noun rather than 'ser' or 'estar' + adjective.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Tener miedo' means to experience fear (to be afraid), while 'dar miedo' means to cause fear in others (to frighten or to be frightening).
Confused word:
Esa película da miedo.
That movie is frightening.
Notes: The difference reflects the direction of the emotion: experiencing it versus causing it in others.
Mnemonic: 'Tener' = you have the fear; 'Dar' = you give fear to others.
Explanation: 'Tener miedo' is a phrase construction while 'temer' is a single verb. 'Temer' is slightly more formal and can imply a deeper, more persistent fear or concern.
Notes: 'Tener miedo' is more common in everyday speech, while 'temer' might appear more in literature or formal contexts.
Mnemonic: Think of 'temer' as a more formal, deeper fear, while 'tener miedo' is more everyday fear.