Spanish Conversation · Level 42
75 words
Spanish word
alarmar
Pronunciation
IPA/alaɾˈmaɾ/
Meaning
- verbstartle
Example
El ruido repentino alarmó al perro.
The sudden noise startled the dog.
More examples
La noticia urgente alarmó a toda la comunidad.
The urgent news startled the entire community.
Core concept
A sudden jolt of surprise that also raises worry.
Common phrases
alarmar a alguien
startle someone
Similar words
asustarse: Becomes abruptly terrified, freezing or gasping from a sudden fright.
sorprenderse: Pauses briefly in surprise on encountering something unexpected.
espantarse: Panics with intense fear, often shouting, fleeing, or recoiling sharply.
inquietarse: Becomes uneasy and worried, growing restless and hard to calm.
Definition in Spanish
Causar sorpresa y, a la vez, inquietud en alguien; provocar que se asuste o se preocupe por algo inesperado.
Word origin
From the noun alarma, via Old French alarme and Italian a l'arme back to Latin arma, originally a call to arms that shifted to mean a warning and then a cause of fear.
Usage tips
- Alarmar is used transitively to cause worry in someone, alarmarse describes becoming alarmed, and No te alarmes is a common way to reassure someone.
Other meanings
- alarmverb
- panicverb
Opposites
- tranquilizarreassureverb
- calmarcalmverb