miedo

fear

noun MYEH-doh Less Common

Usage Note

Miedo is used with tener rather than ser/estar: tengo miedo means 'I am afraid' (literally 'I have fear'). Dar miedo means 'to frighten': me da miedo la oscuridad ('the dark frightens me'). The adjective miedoso means 'fearful' or 'cowardly'.

Examples

"El niño tiene miedo a la oscuridad."

Natural Translation

The child is afraid of the dark.

Literal Translation

The child has fear of the dark.

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