terrifiquemos

Terrifiquemos is a Spanish verb form that functions as the first-person plural (nosotros) present subjunctive of the verb terrificar, meaning to terrify. It is also used as the affirmative imperative for nosotros, expressing a proposal or exhortation to perform the action together: “Let us terrify.”

Etymology and formation: The word derives from terrifi- (from a stem related to fear) plus the standard -car verb ending -quemos in the present subjunctive. This spelling preserves the hard k sound before the vowel -e, in line with orthographic rules for verbs ending in -car (for example, buscar → busquemos).

Usage and nuance: Terrifiquemos is relatively uncommon in everyday speech, owing to its violent or coercive connotation. It appears mainly in literary, rhetorical, or satirical contexts, where the speaker wants to emphasize a collective action to intimidate or strike fear. In subordinate clauses requiring the subjunctive, it can express wishes, possibilities, or hypothetical scenarios, such as “Es necesario que terrifiquemos a las adversarias” or more metaphorically, in political or social commentary.

Translations: In English, terrifiquemos can be rendered as “let us terrify” or, in figurative uses, “let us intimidate” or “let us strike fear into.”

See also: terrificar, subjunctive mood, imperative forms, Spanish verb conjugation, -car verbs.