Temer Conjugation: Express Fear in Spanish + Quiz
[🔙 Return to the Main Hub: Expressing Thoughts, Opinions & Feelings in Spanish]
What is Temer? The Verb for Expressing Fear
Mastering the Spanish verb temer is essential for expressing fear, apprehension, and concern. This verb allows you to communicate everything from mild worry to genuine fear, making it crucial for discussing anxieties and concerns in Spanish.
Key Takeaways:
- Primary Meaning: To fear, to be afraid of, to dread.
- Key Use: Expressing fear, apprehension, or concern about something.
- Must-Know Conjugation:
Temo que...(I fear that…). - Grammar Tip: When expressing fear with
temer que, it’s typically followed by the subjunctive mood. - Common Structure:
Temer por(to fear for),Temer + inf.(to be afraid to do something).
Complete Temer Conjugation: The Essential Tenses
Present Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | temo | Temo a las alturas. (I am afraid of heights.) |
| Tú | temes | ¿Temes al fracaso? (Are you afraid of failure?) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | teme | Ella teme que sea demasiado tarde. (She fears it might be too late.) |
| Nosotros | tememos | Tememos por su seguridad. (We fear for his safety.) |
| Vosotros | teméis | Teméis decir la verdad. (You are afraid to tell the truth.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | temen | Ellos temen las consecuencias. (They fear the consequences.) |
Past Tenses: Preterite vs. Imperfect
Preterite Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | temí | Temí por mi vida en ese momento. (I feared for my life at that moment.) |
| Tú | temiste | Temiste enfrentar la realidad. (You were afraid to face reality.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | temió | Él temió que fuera el fin. (He feared it was the end.) |
| Nosotros | temimos | Temimos lo peor durante la tormenta. (We feared the worst during the storm.) |
| Vosotros | temisteis | Temisteis perderlo todo. (You all feared losing everything.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | temieron | Temieron por sus familias. (They feared for their families.) |
Imperfect Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | temía | Siempre temía a la oscuridad de niño. (I always feared the dark as a child.) |
| Tú | temías | Cuando eras pequeño, temías a los payasos. (When you were little, you were afraid of clowns.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | temía | Ella temía quedarse sola. (She was afraid of being alone.) |
| Nosotros | temíamos | Temíamos que nos descubrieran. (We were afraid they would discover us.) |
| Vosotros | temíais | Temíais preguntar lo obvio. (You all were afraid to ask the obvious.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | temían | Temían que el proyecto fracasara. (They feared the project would fail.) |
Future Tense Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | temeré | Temeré decir lo que pienso. (I will be afraid to say what I think.) |
| Tú | temerás | Temerás las represalias. (You will fear the repercussions.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | temerá | Ella temerá enfrentar el juicio. (She will fear facing the trial.) |
| Nosotros | temeremos | Temeremos por el futuro de nuestros hijos. (We will fear for our children’s future.) |
| Vosotros | temeréis | Temeréis las consecuencias de vuestros actos. (You will fear the consequences of your actions.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | temerán | Temerán nuestra respuesta. (They will fear our response.) |
Present Subjunctive Conjugation
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | tema | Es natural que yo tema lo desconocido. (It’s natural that I fear the unknown.) |
| Tú | temas | No quiero que temas expresarte. (I don’t want you to be afraid to express yourself.) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | tema | Espero que ella no tema ser ella misma. (I hope she isn’t afraid to be herself.) |
| Nosotros | temamos | Ojalá que no temamos tomar decisiones. (I hope we aren’t afraid to make decisions.) |
| Vosotros | temáis | Es triste que temáis soñar en grande. (It’s sad that you are afraid to dream big.) |
| Ellos/Ustedes | teman | Dudo que teman las críticas. (I doubt they fear criticism.) |
Verbals: Gerund & Infinitive
| Form | Spanish | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | temiendo | Estoy temiendo lo peor. (I am fearing the worst.) |
| Infinitive | temer | No debemos temer al cambio. (We shouldn’t fear change.) |
Imperative (Command) Conjugation
Affirmative Commands
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tú | teme | ¡Teme a Dios! (Fear God!) |
| Usted | tema | ¡Tema al señor! (Fear the Lord!) |
| Nosotros | temamos | ¡Temamos solo a la injusticia! (Let’s only fear injustice!) |
| Vosotros | temed | ¡Temed las consecuencias! (Fear the consequences!) |
| Ustedes | teman | ¡Teman la verdadera amenaza! (Fear the real threat!) |
Negative Commands
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tú | no temas | ¡No temas al fracaso! (Don’t fear failure!) |
| Usted | no tema | ¡No tema expresarse! (Don’t fear expressing yourself!) |
| Nosotros | no temamos | ¡No temamos al cambio! (Let’s not fear change!) |
| Vosotros | no temáis | ¡No temáis soñar en grande! (Don’t fear dreaming big!) |
| Ustedes | no teman | ¡No teman intentarlo! (Don’t fear trying!) |
[SEE THE FULL TEMER CONJUGATION IN ALL TENSES WITH OUR INTERACTIVE TOOL]
How to Use Temer in Context
Expressing Fear and Apprehension
- Temo que vaya a llover. (I fear it’s going to rain.)
- ¿Temes volar en avión? (Are you afraid of flying?)
- Temen por el bienestar de sus hijos. (They fear for their children’s well-being.)
Expressing Reluctance or Dread
- Temo decirte esto, pero… (I’m afraid to tell you this, but…)
- Temen enfrentar la realidad. (They are afraid to face reality.)
- No temas preguntar. (Don’t be afraid to ask.)
Common Phrases and Idioms with Temer
- Temer por (to fear for)
- Temer que (to fear that – + subjunctive)
- Temer a (to be afraid of)
- No temas (don’t be afraid)
- Dar miedo (to scare, to be frightening)
A Note on Culture & Common Mistakes
Cultural Insight: In many Spanish-speaking cultures, expressing fear or concern through temer is common and socially acceptable. However, there’s often a cultural emphasis on facing fears with courage, reflected in common sayings like “el que no arriesga, no gana” (nothing ventured, nothing gained).
Watch Out! The most common mistake is confusing when to use the subjunctive with temer que. Use the subjunctive when the fear is about something that might happen, but use the indicative when the fear is about a known fact.
- ✅ Subjunctive for uncertainty:
Temo que **llueva** mañana.(I fear it might rain tomorrow.) - ✅ Indicative for known facts:
Temo que **es** demasiado tarde.(I fear it is too late.)
TAKE THE TEMER CONJUGATION QUIZ
Spanish Verb “Temer” Conjugation Quiz
Level:
A (Basic)
B (Intermediate)
C (Advanced)
Verb “Temer” Tip: “Temer” means “to fear” or “to be afraid” in Spanish. It’s a regular -er verb, making its conjugation patterns consistent across most tenses.
Study Tip: Remember that “temer” follows standard -er verb conjugation patterns. The past participle is “temido” and the gerund is “temiendo”.
Need to review “temer”? Check out our complete “Temer” guide
Study Tip: Remember that “temer” follows standard -er verb conjugation patterns. The past participle is “temido” and the gerund is “temiendo”.
Need to review “temer”? Check out our complete “Temer” guide
Score: 0/20
Question: 1/20
Continue Learning: Next, learn to express regret with: [Lamentar Conjugation: Express Regret in Spanish]