Spanish Conversation · Level 6
89 words
Spanish word
temer
Pronunciation
IPA/teˈmeɾ/
Meaning
- verbfear
Example
Temo a las arañas.
I fear spiders.
More examples
Temo la pérdida de mi trabajo.
I fear the loss of my job.
Core concept
A feeling of fear or worry about what may occur.
Common phrases
temer el rechazo
fear rejection
temer por la seguridad
fear for safety
temer la pérdida
fear the loss
Similar words
tener miedo: Feel afraid of concrete danger or situations that could cause harm.
asustarse: React with a sudden fright to an unexpected event.
acobardarse: Become intimidated, lose courage, and stop taking action.
Definition in Spanish
Sentir miedo o preocupación ante algo que puede suceder, pensar que algo malo puede ocurrir.
Word origin
Cognate with Latin timēre 'to fear' and the noun timor, the verb enters Spanish through medieval forms and retains the sense of fearing a possible event.
Usage tips
- Often appears in the pattern temer que + subjunctive to express 'to fear that...', and in less formal contexts Spanish speakers usually say tener miedo de for concrete fears.