Scared in different languages

Scared in Different Languages

Discover 'Scared' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.

Updated on March 6, 2024

The word 'scared' holds a significant place in our emotional vocabulary, as it allows us to express fear or anxiety in various situations. This word has been used in literature, films, and music to evoke emotions and create engaging narratives. Moreover, understanding the translation of 'scared' in different languages can provide valuable insights into how different cultures perceive and express fear.

For instance, in Spanish, the word for 'scared' is 'asustado.' In French, it's 'effrayé,' and in German, 'erschrocken.' These translations not only reflect linguistic diversity but also cultural nuances in expressing fear.

Delving into the historical context, the word 'scared' has roots in Old English 'sc(e)ar,' which means 'timid' or 'fearful.' Its cultural importance is evident in various idiomatic expressions, such as 'scared stiff' or 'scared out of one's wits,' which have become part of our everyday language.

In this article, we will explore the translations of 'scared' in different languages, shedding light on the fascinating world of language and culture. Stay tuned for a comprehensive list of translations that will leave you enlightened and intrigued!

Scared


Scared in Sub-Saharan African Languages

Afrikaansbang
In Afrikaans, the word "bang" can also mean "tight" or "narrow", which may stem from its original meaning of "to pound" or "to squeeze"}
Amharicፈራ
'ፈራ' (scared) also refers to the idea of being 'careful' or 'wary' in Amharic.
Hausatsorace
Hausa "tsorace" was borrowed from Gwandara "soraci" ("run away, escape" but also "be afraid"), which in turn came from Nupe "soro" ("to be afraid"). While the primary meaning of "tsorace" is "to be afraid", its secondary meaning is "to run away". Other Nupe words beginning with "so-" in Hausa have retained their original meaning of "to flee".
Igboegwu
Egwu means 'fear', 'awe' or 'horror' in Igbo, and is derived from the verb egwu ('to fear').
Malagasymatahotra
The Malagasy word "matahotra" originates from the Malay language, where "mata" means "eye" or "look", and "takut" means "fear".
Nyanja (Chichewa)wamantha
The word "wamantha" in Nyanja is derived from the Proto-Bantu root "*wam-," meaning "to fear" or "to be afraid."
Shonakutya
Kutya may also be an expression of surprise.
Somalicabsi badan
The word "cabsi badan" in Somali can also mean "a lot" or "a great deal".
Sesothotshohile
The word "tshohile" also means "to be afraid" in Sesotho.
Swahilihofu
The word "hofu" can also refer to a type of traditional Swahili dance.
Xhosandiyoyika
The term derives from a Zulu word relating to shock and trembling.
Yorubabẹru
The Yoruba word 'bẹru' can also refer to a feeling of awe or respect
Zuluwethukile
The Zulu word "wethukile" can also mean "to be terrified" or "to be startled."
Bambaralasiran
Ewevɔ̃
Kinyarwandaubwoba
Lingalakobanga
Lugandaokutya
Sepeditšhogile
Twi (Akan)suro

Scared in North African & Middle Eastern Languages

Arabicمفزوع
The word مفزوع may have originated from the word فزع, which means fear or fright.
Hebrewמפוחד
**מפוחד:** from "פחד" (fear), originally "net, trap" (in Aramaic), also "scare," from the root "פחד" (to spread out a net).
Pashtoویریدلی
The Pashto word "ویریدلی" is ultimately derived from the Proto-Indo-Iranian root *wer- "to fear" but has also been influenced by the Persian word "ترسیدن" (tarsidan), which means "to be afraid".
Arabicمفزوع
The word مفزوع may have originated from the word فزع, which means fear or fright.

Scared in Western European Languages

Albaniani trembur
The word "i trembur" in Albanian is also used to describe a feeling of awe or reverence.
Basquebeldurtuta
The word "beldurtuta" may derive from the Proto-Basque word "*beldu" meaning "fear" or "terror".
Catalanespantat
The noun "espanta" (pronounced "iss-PAHNT-uh") means "ghost" or "goblin" and is likely derived from the Latin word "expavorem" for "horror" or "dread".
Croatianprestrašen
The word "prestrašen" is derived from the Proto-Slavic word *prestrastit, meaning "to frighten" or "to scare".
Danishskræmt
"Skræmt" is derived from the Old Norse word "skræmta", meaning "to frighten" or "to haunt".
Dutchbang
The Dutch word "bang" can also mean "nervous" or "anxious".
Englishscared
Scared derives from the Old English word 'sceran', meaning 'to cut' or 'to divide', and is related to the word 'shear'.
Frencheffrayé
The word "effrayé" comes from the Latin "exfridare," meaning "to frighten out of one's wits."
Frisianbang
The Frisian word "bang" can also mean "to hit", "to strike", or "to knock".
Galicianasustado
The Galician word "asustado" also means "thunderstruck" and comes from the Latin word "attonitus", which has the same meaning.
Germanerschrocken
"Erschrecken" originates from Middle High German "erschrecken" and Old High German "irsc(h)recken," "irschrechen," all meaning "terrified or scared" but also originally "jump up"
Icelandichræddur
The Old Norse word "hræddur" originally meant "trembling, shaking", as is the case with the Old English cognate "hrǣd".
Irishscanraithe
Scanraithe originates from the Proto-Indo-European root *sker-, meaning 'to cut', and can also mean 'to divide', 'to separate', or 'to disperse'.
Italianimpaurito
The word "impaurito" derives from the Latin "pavor", meaning "fear" or "dread".
Luxembourgishangscht
The Luxembourgish word "Angscht" originally meant "narrow", and only later acquired its current meaning of "scared".
Malteseimbeżża
The word 'imbeżża' may also refer to an unexpected event, such as a sudden fright or shock.
Norwegianredd
The word redd in Norwegian also means 'nest' for salmon and trout, or 'anchor point' for a ship.
Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil)assustada
The Portuguese word "assustada" also means "stunned or amazed" and derives from the Latin "exagitare" (to agitate).
Scots Gaeliceagal
Egal shares the same root as 'ugly,' implying something frightful to the eye.
Spanishasustado
The etymology of "asustado" (scared) is linked to the Spanish verb "asustar" (to frighten), itself likely deriving from the Arabic "sawtas" (alarm).
Swedishrädd
"Rädd" derives from an Old Norse word that refers to a state of panic.
Welshofnus
The word 'ofnus' can also refer to a sense of awe or wonder.

Scared in Eastern European Languages

Belarusianспалохаўся
The word "спалохаўся" is derived from the Slavic root "*polk-ti" which also means "to scare".
Bosnianuplašen
The root "*plē̆s-/*pel-/*pol-", with the meaning of fullness/abundance of something that is bad/negative/undesirable, is common across Slavic languages.
Bulgarianуплашен
The word "уплашен" comes from the Old Church Slavonic word "уплашь", meaning "terror" or "fear".
Czechstrach
The word "strach" in Czech can also refer to a feeling of awe or reverence, or to a supernatural being that causes fear.
Estonianhirmul
"Hirmu" means both "fear" and "terror" in Estonian.
Finnishpeloissaan
The word "peloissaan" also refers to a state of being frightened, overwhelmed, or unable to think clearly.
Hungarianmegrémült
The word "megrémült" is derived from the verb "rémül", which means "to be afraid" or "to be terrified."
Latviannobijies
"Nobijies" in Latvian is also derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *nebʰ-, meaning "cloud, sky, fog", indicating a connection between fear and the hidden or unknown.
Lithuanianišsigandęs
The Lithuanian word "išsigandęs" shares etymological roots with "signoti," meaning to mark, and is related to concepts of being startled or marked by an experience.
Macedonianисплашен
The word "исплашен" also means "terrified" or "frightened" and comes from the Slavic root "*plašiti" meaning "to scare".
Polishprzestraszony
The Polish word "przestraszony" has cognates in most other Slavic languages.
Romaniansperiat
The word "speriat" is derived from the Latin word "spiritus", meaning "breath" or "life force", suggesting a connection between fear and the loss of vitality.
Russianнапугана
The word "напугана" comes from the Proto-Slavic root *napeti, meaning "to frighten."
Serbianуплашен
The Serbian word "уплашен" comes from the Proto-Slavic word *plašiti, "to frighten". The word is related to the Russian word "пугать", "to frighten", and the Polish word "straszyć", "to frighten". In Bulgarian, the word "уплашен" means "frightened" or "scared", while in Macedonian, it means "afraid". The word has a similar meaning in other Slavic languages.
Slovakvystrašený
The Slovak word "vystrašený" originally meant "frightened by a bird of prey".
Slovenianprestrašen
'Prestrašen' can also mean 'embarrassed' or 'upset' in Slovenian.
Ukrainianпереляканий
In Ukrainian,

Scared in South Asian Languages

Bengaliভীত
ভীত shares an origin with 'fear', 'fright', and 'foe', all stemming from an Indo-European root for 'trembling'.
Gujaratiભયભીત
Hindiडरा हुआ
The word "डरा हुआ" originally meant "deceived" or "cheated" in Sanskrit.
Kannadaಹೆದರುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು
The term 'ಹೆದರುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು' translates literally to 'had been fearing' but is commonly used to denote present fear.
Malayalamപേടിച്ചു
The word പേടിച്ചു ('scared') originates from the Sanskrit word 'भय' ('fear'), which also appears in many other Indian languages.
Marathiभयभीत
The Sanskrit root of भयभीत is 'भी', which means 'fear', and the suffix '-त' indicates the passive, hence 'frightened'.
Nepaliडराउनु
The term "डराउनु" originally referred to the fear associated with supernatural powers or deities.
Punjabiਡਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ
'ਡਰਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ' may have originated from the Sanskrit word 'द्रष्टा' (drashta), meaning 'a seer' or 'a witness', suggesting a state of being watchful or alert.
Sinhala (Sinhalese)බයයි
In addition to meaning “scared”, the word “බයයි” can also mean “fear”, “dread”, or “apprehension”.
Tamilபயமாக இருக்கிறது
Teluguభయపడ్డాడు
"భయపడ్డాడు" means "scared", and is also used to express the feeling of being afraid or apprehensive.
Urduڈرا ہوا
The word "ڈرا ہوا" can also mean "drawn" or "sketched".

Scared in East Asian Languages

Chinese (Simplified)害怕
In ancient Chinese, "害怕" also meant "not daring to" or "respectful".
Chinese (Traditional)害怕
"害怕" also means "respect" in some contexts.
Japanese怖い
"怖い" can also mean "lovely" or "adorable" in certain contexts.
Korean깜짝 놀란
'깜짝 놀란' is derived from the Korean word '깜짝', meaning surprise, and '놀라다', meaning to be startled. It can also mean 'to be amazed' or 'to be taken aback'.
Mongolianайсан
The Mongolian word "айсан" (scared) also means "wild" or "ferocious" in some contexts, reflecting the idea that fear can lead to aggressive behavior.
Myanmar (Burmese)ကြောက်တယ်

Scared in South East Asian Languages

Indonesiantakut
The Indonesian word "takut" is related to the Malay word "takut", which originally meant "to fear" but later came to mean "to be surprised".
Javanesewedi
The word "wedi" in Javanese is also used to refer to a sense of awe or respect towards something or someone, such as a superior or an elder.
Khmerខ្លាច
The Khmer word "ខ្លាច" can also refer to being in awe or having respect for something or someone.
Laoຢ້ານ
"ຢ້ານ" can also mean "to respect", "to be cautious", or "to worry" in Lao.
Malaytakut
"Takut" is also derived from the Sanskrit word "trij" meaning "three" and it can also mean "trinity" or "triad" in Malay.
Thaiกลัว
"กลัว" means both "scared" and "respectful" in Thai, with the former deriving from the latter.
Vietnamesesợ hãi
"Sợ hãi" derives from the Proto-Austronesian word "*qa-qay", which also means "to be afraid or frightened".
Filipino (Tagalog)natatakot

Scared in Central Asian Languages

Azerbaijaniqorxdum
"Qorxmaq" (to be scared) is derived from the Persian word "hars", meaning 'fear' or 'dread'
Kazakhқорқады
The word "қорқады" can also mean "to fear" or "to be afraid".
Kyrgyzкорккон
"Корккон" также означает "попасть в ловушку" или "остаться изолированным в замкнутом пространстве."
Tajikтарсид
The word "тарсид" also means "runaway" or "fugitive" in some dialects of Tajiki.
Turkmengorkdy
Uzbekqo'rqib ketdi
"Qo'rqib ketdi" is the Uzbek phrase for "got scared" and is derived from the verb "qo'rqmoq" (to fear) and the particle "ket-" (to go). It can also be used to express surprise or shock.
Uyghurقورقۇپ كەتتى

Scared in Pacific Languages

Hawaiianmakaʻu
Makaʻu may also mean "respect" or "reverence" in the Hawaiian language, as one might revere a powerful entity.
Maorimataku
The Maori word "mataku" derives from its literal meaning of "eye-blink," referencing when one's eyes widen in fear and surprise.
Samoanfefe
The Samoan word "fefe" has cognates in other Polynesian languages with slightly different meanings, like "timid" in Tongan.
Tagalog (Filipino)natakot
"Natakot" in Tagalog can also mean "to be startled" or "to be frightened."

Scared in American Indigenous Languages

Aymaramulljata
Guaraniñemondýi

Scared in International Languages

Esperantotimigita
The Esperanto word "timigita" is derived from the root "tim", meaning "fear" or "dread", and is related to the words "timinda" (fearful) and "timoro" (fear).
Latintimentes
The term "Timentes" also holds the sense of "being reverent towards Gods" and "full of respect".

Scared in Others Languages

Greekφοβισμένος
The word "φοβισμένος" is derived from the Greek word "φόβος" which also means "fear" or "dread".
Hmongntshai
The Hmong word "ntshai" not only means "scared", but can also refer to a feeling of awe or wonder, or even a sense of respect mixed with fear.
Kurdishditirse
The word "ditirse" is also used in the sense of "to be wary".
Turkishkorkmuş
Kork, a Turkic verb meaning "to fear" and "to be afraid," is the root of the adjective korkmus, meaning "afraid" or "cowardly."
Xhosandiyoyika
The term derives from a Zulu word relating to shock and trembling.
Yiddishדערשראָקן
The Yiddish word "דערשראָקן" is derived from the German word "erschrecken", meaning "to frighten" or "to terrify".
Zuluwethukile
The Zulu word "wethukile" can also mean "to be terrified" or "to be startled."
Assameseভয় খোৱা
Aymaramulljata
Bhojpuriडेराइल
Dhivehiބިރުގަނެފައިވުން
Dogriडरे दा
Filipino (Tagalog)natatakot
Guaraniñemondýi
Ilocanomabuteng
Kriofred
Kurdish (Sorani)ترساو
Maithiliभयभीत
Meiteilon (Manipuri)ꯑꯀꯤꯕ ꯄꯣꯛꯄ
Mizohlau
Oromokan rifate
Odia (Oriya)ଭୟଭିତ
Quechuamancharisqa
Sanskritभयसन्त्रस्तः
Tatarкурка
Tigrinyaዝፈረሐ
Tsongachuha

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