espantar

Espantar is a Spanish verb whose primary meaning is to cause fear or to drive away by frightening; to frighten, scare off. It can also mean to dispel fear, doubt, or evil influences, as in expressions that refer to warding off misfortune or malevolent forces.

Usage is mainly transitive, taking a direct object with a person or animal: espantar a alguien, espantar a los perros. The subject of the sentence is the thing that causes the fear (for example, a loud noise, a sudden movement). It can also appear intransitively in the reflexive form espantarse, meaning to become frightened oneself: Se espantó al ver la sombra. The verb can be used with a variety of objects, including events, sounds, or situations: el trueno espantó a los caballos, la noticia espantó a la población.

In addition to its negative sense of causing fear, espantar can have a broader nuance of astonishment or surprise in some regional uses, though more common verbs for that sense are sorprender or asombrar. The noun espanto denotes the act or feeling of fear or a scare, while the adjective espantoso describes something terrifying or extremely shocking.

Origin and etymology are not definitively established, but espantar has long been part of the Spanish lexicon, with usage attested in historical texts and continuing in modern language. Related forms include espanto (noun), espantador (one who scares), and espantoso (adjective).