Aterrorizar Conjugation in Spanish
The Spanish verb aterrorizar means to terrify, and it is a verb you will use again and again once you know it. Aterrorizar means to terrify, and it is a strong verb for extreme fear: a film terrifies children, a storm terrifies a village, a threat terrifies a family. It is stronger than asustar, and it is used for fear that paralyses. Like every Spanish verb, aterrorizar changes its ending for each person and tense, and this page gives you the complete picture: every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle, all from the verified conjugation tables. For example, in the present tense you say aterrorizo a los niños con la película, and in the preterite you say aterroricé a la familia con amenazas. Work through the tables below, read the notes for each tense, and then test yourself with the examples, the common mistakes and the quiz at the end of the page.
Quick facts
- Infinitive: aterrorizar
- English: to terrify
- Verb type: spelling-changing verb
- Ending: -ar
- Gerund: aterrorizando
- Past participle: aterrorizado
- Auxiliary verb: haber (all perfect tenses are formed with haber + aterrorizado)
- Spelling change: the stem spelling changes in some forms so the pronunciation stays the same — see the notes under each tense.
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for aterrorizar, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the preterite is aterroricé and the subjunctive is aterrorice — never aterrorizé.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from the verified conjugation tables for aterrorizar. The imperfect subjunctive is shown in its -ra forms; the -se forms use the same stem. For reflexive verbs, the pronoun column shows the reflexive pronoun that goes before each form.
Present indicative
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aterrorizo |
| tú | aterrorizas |
| él/ella/Ud. | aterroriza |
| nosotros/as | aterrorizamos |
| vosotros/as | aterrorizáis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aterrorizan |
Preterite
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aterroricé |
| tú | aterrorizaste |
| él/ella/Ud. | aterrorizó |
| nosotros/as | aterrorizamos |
| vosotros/as | aterrorizasteis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aterrorizaron |
Imperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aterrorizaba |
| tú | aterrorizabas |
| él/ella/Ud. | aterrorizaba |
| nosotros/as | aterrorizábamos |
| vosotros/as | aterrorizabais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aterrorizaban |
Future
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aterrorizaré |
| tú | aterrorizarás |
| él/ella/Ud. | aterrorizará |
| nosotros/as | aterrorizaremos |
| vosotros/as | aterrorizaréis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aterrorizarán |
Conditional
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aterrorizaría |
| tú | aterrorizarías |
| él/ella/Ud. | aterrorizaría |
| nosotros/as | aterrorizaríamos |
| vosotros/as | aterrorizaríais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aterrorizarían |
Present perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he aterrorizado |
| tú | has aterrorizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | ha aterrorizado |
| nosotros/as | hemos aterrorizado |
| vosotros/as | habéis aterrorizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | han aterrorizado |
Pluperfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | había aterrorizado |
| tú | habías aterrorizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | había aterrorizado |
| nosotros/as | habíamos aterrorizado |
| vosotros/as | habíais aterrorizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habían aterrorizado |
Future perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habré aterrorizado |
| tú | habrás aterrorizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habrá aterrorizado |
| nosotros/as | habremos aterrorizado |
| vosotros/as | habréis aterrorizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrán aterrorizado |
Conditional perfect
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | habría aterrorizado |
| tú | habrías aterrorizado |
| él/ella/Ud. | habría aterrorizado |
| nosotros/as | habríamos aterrorizado |
| vosotros/as | habríais aterrorizado |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | habrían aterrorizado |
Present subjunctive
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aterrorice |
| tú | aterrorices |
| él/ella/Ud. | aterrorice |
| nosotros/as | aterroricemos |
| vosotros/as | aterroricéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aterroricen |
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | aterrorizara |
| tú | aterrorizaras |
| él/ella/Ud. | aterrorizara |
| nosotros/as | aterrorizáramos |
| vosotros/as | aterrorizarais |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aterrorizaran |
Imperative (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | aterroriza |
| él/ella/Ud. | aterrorice |
| nosotros/as | aterroricemos |
| vosotros/as | aterrorizad |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aterroricen |
Imperative (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tú | aterrorices |
| él/ella/Ud. | aterrorice |
| nosotros/as | aterroricemos |
| vosotros/as | aterroricéis |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | aterroricen |
Gerund and past participle
| Form | Spanish | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Gerund | aterrorizando | with estar for the progressive: estoy aterrorizando |
| Past participle | aterrorizado | with haber for the perfect tenses: he aterrorizado |
How to use each tense
Present indicative
Use the present for routines, general facts and what is happening right now. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the present looks like this in a real sentence: Aterrorizo a los niños con la película. Learn the present forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Preterite
Use the preterite for finished actions with a clear end, often with ayer, el año pasado or anoche. Note the spelling change here: z becomes c before e, so the preterite is aterroricé, never aterrorizé. For aterrorizar, the preterite looks like this in a real sentence: Ayer, aterroricé al pueblo con la tormenta. Learn the preterite forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect
Use the imperfect for background, habits and actions in progress in the past, often with de niño, antes or mientras. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the imperfect looks like this in a real sentence: De niño, aterrorizaba a la familia con amenazas. Learn the imperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future
Use the future for plans, predictions and promises, often with mañana, el año que viene or pronto. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the future looks like this in a real sentence: Mañana, aterrorizaré a los pasajeros con el ruido. Learn the future forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional
Use the conditional for polite requests, hypotheticals and what would happen, often with si clauses. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the conditional looks like this in a real sentence: Aterrorizaría a los niños con la película si pudiera. Learn the conditional forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present perfect
Use the present perfect for recent actions and experiences, often with hoy, esta semana or ya. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the present perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Hoy, he aterrorizado al pueblo con la tormenta. Learn the present perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Pluperfect
Use the pluperfect when one past action happened before another past action. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the pluperfect looks like this in a real sentence: Había aterrorizado a la familia con amenazas antes de salir. Learn the pluperfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Future perfect
Use the future perfect for something that will already be finished by a future time. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the future perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Para mañana, habré aterrorizado a los pasajeros con el ruido. Learn the future perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Conditional perfect
Use the conditional perfect for what would have happened under different conditions. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the conditional perfect looks like this in a real sentence: Habría aterrorizado a los niños con la película con más tiempo. Learn the conditional perfect forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Present subjunctive
Use the present subjunctive after expressions of wish, doubt, emotion and hope, such as espero que or quiero que. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the present subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Espero que él aterrorice al pueblo con la tormenta. Learn the present subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperfect subjunctive (-ra)
Use the imperfect subjunctive after past wishes and in si clauses about the past, and note the -ra forms shown here; the -se forms use the same stem. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the imperfect subjunctive looks like this in a real sentence: Si él aterrorizara a la familia con amenazas, todo cambiaría. Learn the imperfect subjunctive forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (affirmative)
Use the affirmative imperative for direct commands, instructions and invitations. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the affirmative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: ¡aterroriza a los pasajeros con el ruido! Learn the affirmative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Imperative (negative)
Use the negative imperative, always with no, to tell someone not to do something. For this verb the tense is regular, so the forms follow the standard endings for its verb class. For aterrorizar, the negative imperative looks like this in a real sentence: No aterrorices a los niños con la película. Learn the negative imperative forms in the table above alongside this example, and notice how the ending, not the stem, usually carries the meaning of the tense.
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with aterrorizar, covering different tenses and persons. Each one uses a form from the tables above.
- Aterrorizo a los niños con la película. — I terrify the children with the film.
- Aterroriza al pueblo con la tormenta. — He/she terrifies the village with the storm.
- Ayer, aterroricé a la familia con amenazas. — Yesterday, I terrified the family with threats.
- Antes, nosotros aterrorizábamos a los pasajeros con el ruido. — Before, we used to terrify the passengers with the noise.
- Mañana, tú aterrorizarás a los niños con la película. — Tomorrow, you will terrify the children with the film.
- Yo aterrorizaría al pueblo con la tormenta si tuviera más tiempo. — I would terrify the village with the storm if I had more time.
- Él ha aterrorizado a la familia con amenazas. — He has terrified the family with threats.
- Espero que él aterrorice a los pasajeros con el ruido. — I hope he terrifies the passengers with the noise.
- Yo ya había aterrorizado a los niños con la película antes de salir. — I had already terrified the children with the film before leaving.
- Ellos aterrorizaban al pueblo con la tormenta cuando eran jóvenes. — They used to terrify the village with the storm when they were young.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: Yo aterroriza a los niños con la película. — Right: Yo aterrorizo a los niños con la película. — The person matters: aterroriza is the él/ella/Ud. form, while the yo form is aterrorizo. Using the third-person form with yo is one of the most common beginner errors.
- Wrong: Ayer, yo aterrorizé a la familia con amenazas. — Right: Ayer, yo aterroricé a la familia con amenazas. — Spelling change: z becomes c before e, so the preterite is aterroricé, never aterrorizé.
- Wrong: Treating aterrorizar and asustar as identical in every context. — Right: Aterrorizar means to terrify, while asustar means to frighten someone. — They overlap, but each has uses the other does not: aterrorizar fits sentences such as Aterrorizo a los niños con la película, while asustar belongs in a different sentence. Check the meaning you want before choosing.
- Wrong: Yo soy aterrorizado al pueblo con la tormenta. — Right: Yo he aterrorizado al pueblo con la tormenta. — Spanish perfect tenses use haber, not ser: he aterrorizado, has aterrorizado, ha aterrorizado. Ser plus the participle makes a passive, not a perfect tense.
- Wrong: De niño, yo aterroricé a la familia con amenazas todos los días. — Right: De niño, yo aterrorizaba a la familia con amenazas todos los días. — For a repeated habit in the past, use the imperfect (aterrorizaba), not the preterite. The preterite (aterroricé) is for one finished action.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on aterrorizar. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a los niños con la película. (present tense) A. aterrorizo B. aterrorizas C. aterroriza D. aterrorizamos
Complete the sentence: Ayer, él ___ al pueblo con la tormenta. (preterite) A. aterroricé B. aterrorizaste C. aterrorizaron D. aterrorizó
Complete the sentence: Antes, nosotros ___ a la familia con amenazas. (imperfect) A. aterrorizabas B. aterrorizaban C. aterrorizábamos D. aterrorizaba
Complete the sentence: Mañana, tú ___ a los pasajeros con el ruido. (future) A. aterrorizaremos B. aterrorizarás C. aterrorizaré D. aterrorizará
Complete the sentence: Yo ___ a los niños con la película si pudiera. (conditional) A. aterrorizaría B. aterrorizarías C. aterrorizarían D. aterrorizo
Complete the sentence: Espero que él ___ al pueblo con la tormenta. (present subjunctive) A. aterrorices B. aterroricemos C. aterrorizo D. aterrorice
Complete the sentence: Si yo ___ a la familia con amenazas, todo cambiaría. (imperfect subjunctive, -ra form) A. aterrorizáramos B. aterrorizo C. aterrorizara D. aterrorizaras
Complete the sentence: Nosotros ___ a los pasajeros con el ruido. (present perfect) A. han aterrorizado B. hemos aterrorizado C. he aterrorizado D. has aterrorizado
Complete the command: ¡___ a los niños con la película! (affirmative imperative, tú) A. aterroriza B. aterrorice C. aterroricemos D. aterrorizad
Which is the gerund of aterrorizar, used with estar for the progressive? A. aterrorizado B. aterrorizo C. aterroricé D. aterrorizando
Answer key
- aterrorizo — The first-person present of aterrorizar is aterrorizo. The other options are the tú, él/ella and nosotros forms.
- aterrorizó — The third-person preterite of aterrorizar is aterrorizó, the form for a single finished action in the past.
- aterrorizábamos — The nosotros imperfect of aterrorizar is aterrorizábamos, used here for a repeated past habit.
- aterrorizarás — The second-person future of aterrorizar is aterrorizarás.
- aterrorizaría — The first-person conditional of aterrorizar is aterrorizaría, the form for what would happen.
- aterrorice — After espero que, the subjunctive is required: the third-person present subjunctive of aterrorizar is aterrorice.
- aterrorizara — The first-person imperfect subjunctive (-ra) of aterrorizar is aterrorizara.
- hemos aterrorizado — The nosotros present perfect of aterrorizar is hemos aterrorizado: hemos + aterrorizado.
- aterroriza — The affirmative tú imperative of aterrorizar is aterroriza.
- aterrorizando — The gerund of aterrorizar is aterrorizando: estoy aterrorizando. The participle aterrorizado is used with haber instead.
Frequently asked questions
What does aterrorizar mean in English?
Aterrorizar means to terrify. It is used in everyday situations such as Aterrorizo a los niños con la película. The exact English wording depends on the context, but the core meaning stays the same across the tenses.
Is aterrorizar regular or irregular?
Aterrorizar is a spelling-changing verb: the endings are regular, but the spelling of the stem changes in some forms so the pronunciation stays the same. For example, the preterite first person is aterroricé. The other tenses follow the regular pattern for -ar verbs.
What is the difference between aterrorizar and asustar?
Aterrorizar means to terrify, while asustar means to frighten someone. They are easy to confuse because they appear in similar situations, but they are not interchangeable: use aterrorizar when you mean to terrify, as in Aterrorizo a los niños con la película, and use asustar for to frighten someone. When in doubt, check the object of the sentence — it usually shows which verb fits.
How do I say “I terrify” in the past?
It depends on the kind of past. For one finished action, use the preterite: yo aterroricé al pueblo con la tormenta. For a repeated habit or background in the past, use the imperfect: yo aterrorizaba a la familia con amenazas. For something that has just happened, use the present perfect: yo he aterrorizado al pueblo con la tormenta.
How do I practise aterrorizar?
Start with the present tense table, then drill the preterite and the imperfect, since those two past tenses cause the most mistakes. Try the aterrorizar examples and quiz page for more sentences, and use the Spanish Verb Quiz to test the forms under pressure.
Related links
- Aterrorizar in the present tense — the full present-tense table for aterrorizar.
- Aterrorizar examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice for aterrorizar.
- Spanish verbs — the Spanish hub, with every verb and tense guide.
- Aumentar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with aterrorizar.
- Aspirar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with aterrorizar.
- Aventurar conjugation — another -ar verb to compare with aterrorizar.
- Spanish Verb Conjugator — conjugate any Spanish verb in every tense.
- Spanish Verb Quiz — test yourself on real conjugated forms.