Expressions of horror in Spanish are very varied. With them we can express our most deep fears and terrors. In a few days Halloween will be here and it may be a good time to put them into practice. Let’s take a look at some of the most used ones.
Before we begin, we must remember that expressing emotions can be a bit confusing for students. In this article we help you understand the different structures we use to express emotions in Spanish.
Now, let’s get to know the most used expressions of horror in Spanish.
Expressions of Horror in Spanish with the Verb dar
We use the verb dar in a similar way to the verb gustar. For this we need a subject, which is the thing that provokes fear, and an indirect object, which is the person who suffers it. The difference with the verb gustar is that we also need a direct object, which is the emotion we feel.
Me dan miedo los fantasmas.
As we already know from the expressions of emotion, in Spanish it is possible to show the cause of fear with three different forms:
Noun: Me da pánico esa araña.
Infinitive (same person): Me da pavor escuchar ruidos por la noche.
Que + subjunctive (different person): Me da miedo que aparezca un murciélago.
The Verb Sentir to Express Fear
The verb sentir is perhaps the most commonly used verb to express horror. It is not as complicated as the verb dar, but there are two important differences to remember. If we choose the non-pronominal form of the verb sentir, we must use a noun:
Siento terror cuando entro en los cementerios.
However, when we use the pronominal form, we need an adjective:
Me siento aterrorizado si escucho los aullidos de los lobos.
The verb Temer for Expressions of Horror in Spanish
The verb temer also has two different structures. Although this time, there is a radical change of meaning. If we use it with its pronominal form and with indicative, we will indicate that we have a suspicion that something negative is going to happen.
Lo siento, señor, me temo que no podremos ayudarle.
However, if we want to express fear for a future event, we use it without pronouns and with subjunctive.
María no ha llamado; temo que haya tenido un accidente.
Expressions of Horror in Spanish with Vulgar Idioms
To finish, let’s get to learn some of the most vulgar expressions of horror in Spanish. We recommend using them only in an informal atmosphere.
Cagarse / Estar cagado de miedo: Cuando vi aquella sombra, me cagué de miedo.
Estar muerto de miedo: No quiero ver esa peli de vampiros; estoy muerto de miedo.
Acojonarse / Estar acojonado: Desde que hice la sesión de espiritismo estoy acojonado.
In conclusion, there are many expressions of horror in Spanish and in this article we have not seen them all. If you want to practice with a Spanish teacher and learn many more ways to express your fear on Halloween, do not hesitate to reserve classes at Spanishviaskype.com. And you, ¿qué te da miedo?
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