Temar(se?)

Question

I hear some of my Spanish friends (in Spain) using what sounds like "me temo" or perhaps just "temo" a lot in conversation, in fact to the point of overuse. Also "el tema es" which does get confusing for me when the conversation is rapid and heated.

I have also read;

me temo que = I am afraid that....

no temas = don't be scared/afraid

temo enterarme = I'm afraid to find out

But when I looked up the verb "temar" all I got was that it is an intransitive verb, used with the preposition "con" in S.Cone or Bolivia, depending how you read the annotation, that means; 1 to have a mania; be obsessed 2 to bear ill will http://www.spanishdict.com/translate/temar

Note: There is no listing that I can see for "temarse" as a pronominal/reflexive form.

Can someone explain to me why?

am I wrongly interpreting the verb infinitive?

Can it be reflexive or pronominal or are the examples I have read incorrect?

In the conversations am I hearing incorrectly perhaps (that happens to me a lot - haha)?

does it have other colloquial meanings?

As I'm in Spain if you could indicate if a usage is pretty much localised to a particular country/ies in S.America that would be great.

NB: I notice that here there are people who use Southern American slang as it's cool but unfortunately with my level of spanish and my age that would sit about as well on me as a belly button piercing and hotpants. LOL

nice question, so detailed, nice to meet you, erika :) - 006595c6, Aug 16, 2017

Answer 1

Wow, what a wonderfully detailed question!

Easy enough to understand your confusion, and easy enough to set it straight, too.

You should not be looking at "temar" (I've never used that word myself), but "temer" - "to fear".

Then it makes a lot more sense, eh?

Also, do not confuse the verb "temer" with "el tema", which means "the subject" or "the issue - two completely unrelated words.

Now I feel completely airheaded. Thank you so much. Interesting that we have the word temerity meaning to be unafraid (in a reckless or misplaced kind of way) - ErikainAndalusia, Aug 16, 2017

Ah the penny drops. Of course, in "no temas" the a is in place of the e because it´s a negative imperative. Damn things get me every time. LOL - ErikainAndalusia, Aug 16, 2017

Answer 2

If you look at the RAE dictionary, you will see that when temer is used to mean sospechar / creer this usage can also be spoken with a pronoun. In fact pronominally is how we use the word in this instance. I don´t know why it is spoken this way, but just know that in this case it "sounds better".

I agree it feels right, like "me pregunto" your´re sort of having a conversation within yourself wondering, fearing, speculating... - ErikainAndalusia, Aug 16, 2017

Answer 3

It's "temer".

It means " to be afraid" or "to fear" mostly.

It could be transitive but also intransitive.Example of the latter. "Temo por mi casa."

It's possible to use it like you say not only in Spain but in L. America too. Me temo que mañana va a llover. I'm afraid it's going to rain tomorrow.

Temo a los truenos.
Temes a Dios.
Tememos a la oscuridad.
Temed a los dictadores sangrientos.
Temerían a las consecuencias si las supieran etc.