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"Aterrar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to terrify", and "atemorizar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to frighten". Learn more about the difference between "aterrar" and "atemorizar" below.
aterrar(
ah
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teh
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rrahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to scare)
a. to terrify
Las montañas rusas me aterran y jamás me subiré a una.Rollercoasters terrify me and I'll never ride one.
a. to shoot down
La artillería antiaérea aterró los cazas enemigos.The antiaircraft artillery shot down the enemy fighters.
a. to fill with earth
Aterramos el foso antes de que alguien cayera en él.We filled the pit with earth before anyone could fall in it.
b. to fill with dirt
Una vez que esté clausurada, la mina será aterrada.Once it's closed, the mine will be filled with dirt.
c. to cover with earth
El sepulturero tomó la pala y aterró la tumba.The undertaker took his shovel and covered the grave with earth.
d. to cover with dirt
Aterré el hueco después de plantar las semillas.I covered the hole with dirt after planting the seeds.
4. (to block) (Central America)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
a. to obstruct
La basura y las hojas caídas aterran el desagüe.Trash and fallen leaves are obstructing the storm drain.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
a. to land
Según la planilla, el vuelo mu502 que viene de Londres aterrará a las 7 am.Flight mu502 coming from London is scheduled to land at 7 am.
b. to reach land
El barco aterró finalmente tras una travesía de 80 días.The ship finally reached land after a 80-day voyage.
aterrarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to become terrified
Me aterré cuando el avión se sacudió por la turbulencia.I became terrified when the airplane encountered turbulence.
7. (nautical)
a. to stand inshore
El barco necesita aterrarse hasta que pase la tormenta y pueda hacerse a la mar.The ship needs to stand inshore until the storm passes and it can set sail.
atemorizar(
ah
-
teh
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moh
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ree
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sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to frighten
El payaso atemorizó a la niña, que al verlo se puso a llorar desconsoladamente.The clown frightened the girl, who started crying inconsolably when she saw him.
b. to intimidate
Los narcos buscan atemorizar a la gente para que no los delaten.The drug traffickers want to intimidate the people so that they won't inform on them.
atemorizarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
2. (to fear)
a. to be frightened
No nos atemorizamos por las amenazas de Trujillo.We weren't frightened by Trujillo's threats.
b. to get frightened
Muchos animales se atemorizan cuando hay una tormenta eléctrica.Many animals get frightened when there's a thunderstorm.
