Learn Spanish (Latin America): Yo no tengo miedo.

Yo no tengo miedo.

I am not afraid.

Breakdown of Yo no tengo miedo.

Questions & Answers about Yo no tengo miedo.

Why does this use tengo (I have) instead of soy or estoy (I am)?

In English, we say "I am afraid" using the verb "to be." But in Spanish, certain physical states and feelings—like fear, hunger, and thirst—are treated as things you have. So, you literally say "I have fear" (tengo miedo).

If I am a woman, should I change the word to mieda?

No, it always stays miedo. In English, "afraid" is a describing word (an adjective). But in Spanish, miedo is a noun meaning "fear." Since it's a noun that you possess (like a dog or a book), its ending doesn't change to match your gender.

Where exactly does the word no go in the sentence?

The word no almost always goes immediately before the verb, which is tengo here. If you choose to use the subject pronoun (yo), the no gets sandwiched right between the subject and the verb: Yo no tengo...

Do I have to include the word yo?

No, you can simply say No tengo miedo. Because the verb form tengo already means "I have" and can't be used for anyone else, the yo is optional. Adding it just gives a little extra emphasis, like saying "I am not afraid."