tienen miedo

are afraid of; are scared of

→ tener

phrase Uncommon #15,773

are afraid of; are scared of Usually followed by de, a, or al before what they fear. The phrase is often used with a direct object pronoun like le in some constructions, but the exact form depends on the sentence.

SP: Algunas personas tienen miedo de las arañas.

EN: Some people are afraid of spiders.

Algunos animales le tienen miedo al fuego.

Some animals are afraid of fire.

Todos tienen miedo.

Everyone is afraid.

Los pájaros no tienen miedo.

Birds are not afraid.

— El castillo en el cielo (1986)

Los gatos le tienen miedo al agua.

Cats are afraid of water.

Las mujeres me tienen miedo.

Women are afraid of me.

Tienen miedo.

They are afraid.

— El submarino (Das Boot) (1981)

Los perros tienen miedo a las serpientes.

Dogs are afraid of snakes.

Me tienen miedo.

They are afraid of me.

Todos tienen miedo del tiempo.

Everyone is afraid of time.

Ellos no le tienen miedo a la muerte.

They aren't afraid of death.

Los que son delincuentes, tienen miedo, carajo.

Those who are criminals are afraid, damn it.

— Tropa de élite 2 (2010)

Y todos tienen miedo a él.

And everyone is afraid of him.

— Los lunes al sol (2002)

Le tienen miedo.

They’re afraid of him.

— Carandiru (2003)

Ellos nos tienen miedo.

They are afraid of us.

Los niños me tienen miedo.

The children are afraid of me.

Tienen miedo de mí.

They are afraid of me.

Todos tienen miedo de mí.

Everyone is afraid of me.

— System crasher (2019)

Los animales tienen miedo del fuego.

Animals are afraid of fire.

Estos hombres tienen miedo.

These men are afraid.

— Hamnet (2025)

Ellas no tienen miedo.

They are not afraid.

— Las flores de la guerra (2011)

Tom y Mary se tienen miedo.

Tom and Mary are afraid of each other.

Tienen miedo a morir.

They are afraid of dying.

— Tropa de élite (2007)