When you need this

A loud bang in the night. A dog running at you. A plane that suddenly drops. Fear comes fast, and afterward you want to tell someone what happened and how it felt. You'll also talk about fears that stay with you, like heights or deep water.

Pick the word by strength and by setting. "Scared" is the everyday word, and it's what most Americans say out loud. "Afraid" means the same but sounds a little more careful. "Terrified" is the strongest. "Freaked out" is casual and often about something strange or creepy, not only dangerous. Watch the grammar: "scared of" plus a thing ("scared of spiders"), "scared to" plus a verb ("scared to look down").

One trap: "I'm afraid" also has a polite meaning with no fear at all. "I'm afraid we're closed" means "Sorry, we're closed." Context tells you which one you're hearing.

Phrases

the everyday way to name a fear

you fear doing something

very strong fear

something gave you a sudden shock

someone surprised you, often by accident

casual: uneasy about something strange

your body reacted to fear

you couldn't move for a moment

something creepy or strong made your skin cold

a long-term fear

fear kept you awake

polite "no"; no fear at all

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

Practice · 3 min

Say the fear line that fits. Situation on the left, one natural line on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.