Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Concern in Spanish: Preocupación & Inquietud
Preocupación · noun (feminine) · preh-oh-koo-pah-SYOHN
Preocupación is the most natural Spanish equivalent of concern when it means worry. When concern means involvement (it is not your concern), Spanish uses incumbencia or asunto.
preh-oh-koo-pah-SYOHN (preocupación) · een-kyeh-TOOD (inquietud)
Mi mayor preocupación es la salud de mi familia.
My greatest concern is my family's health.
Concern in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for concern, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| preocupación | concern | preh-oh-koo-pah-SYOHN | Default, widely understood |
| inquietud | concern | slightly formal — restless worry | |
| interés | concern | when concern means interest or involvement |
How Native Speakers Use Preocupación
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Expressing worry
Tengo una gran preocupación por el cambio climático.
I have a great concern about climate change.
Preocupación followed by por indicates what you are worried about.
Formal or written tone
El comité expresó su inquietud respecto a los recortes.
The committee expressed its concern regarding the cuts.
Inquietud is more formal and appears in official statements and reports.
Concern as involvement
Eso no es asunto tuyo.
That is not your concern.
When concern means business or affair, Spanish uses asunto or incumbencia.
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Preocupación
Using concierna as a noun
Incorrect: Tengo una concierna sobre el proyecto.
Correct: Tengo una preocupación sobre el proyecto.
Concierna is not a noun — it is a verb form (concernir). The noun is preocupación or inquietud.
Confusing preocupación with ocupación
Incorrect: Mi principal ocupación es el medio ambiente.
Correct: Mi principal preocupación es el medio ambiente.
Ocupación means occupation (job). Preocupación (with pre-) means worry or concern.
Lock in Concern Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Preocupación used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using preocupación in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Mi mayor preocupación es la salud de mi familia. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
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Common Questions About Concern in Spanish
- How do you say I am concerned in Spanish?
- Estoy preocupado (masc.) or estoy preocupada (fem.). You can also say me preocupa + [the thing that concerns you].
- What is the difference between preocupación and inquietud?
- Both mean concern, but inquietud carries a sense of restlessness. It is slightly more literary and used in formal writing.
- How do you say to whom it may concern in Spanish?
- The standard formal opening is A quien corresponda. It is used at the top of official letters.