The word "espantar" is a verb.
/espán̪taɾ/
"Espantar" means to cause someone to feel sudden fear or fright. It is often used in contexts where someone or something provokes a sense of alarm or terror. The word is commonly used in both oral and written Spanish, but may be more frequently encountered in conversational language.
The horror movie was able to scare all the viewers.
El perro empezó a ladrar y eso espantó a los niños.
The dog started barking and that frightened the children.
No quiero espantar a mi gato cuando encienda la aspiradora.
"Espantar" is often used in various idiomatic expressions in the Spanish language. Some of these include:
This phrase can be used metaphorically to imply that someone is using fear tactics or exaggerated tales to instill fear.
Espantar los miedos.
This expression conveys the idea of facing one's fears head-on rather than letting them overcome you.
Espantar las moscas.
Used to describe someone who is distracting others or causing annoyance, sometimes by their very presence.
No dejes que los problemas te espanten.
The word "espantar" comes from the Latin "expantāre," which means "to make to flee" or "to lay open." Over time, it evolved through Vulgar Latin influences into the modern Spanish form.
Synonyms: - Asustar (to scare) - Amedrentar (to intimidate) - Alarmar (to alarm)
Antonyms: - Calmar (to calm) - Sosegar (to soothe) - Tranquilizar (to tranquilize)
This information provides a comprehensive view of the word "espantar" within the Spanish language context.