Portuguese Phrase
Tenho medo de ser rejeitado(a).
Meaning
Literally ‘I have fear of being rejected.’ It expresses a personal anxiety that something or someone will turn you down, whether in love, a job application, a social invitation, or any situation where acceptance is uncertain.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to explain why you hesitate to act – for example, before applying for a job, asking someone out, or submitting a project. It works in both formal and informal contexts, but the tone is slightly more reflective than a casual ‘Tenho medo.’
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tenhomedodeserrejeitado(a)
Tenho (verbo ter)
First‑person singular present of ter, used to express possession or a state: ‘I have’ or ‘I am’.
medo (substantivo)
A masculine noun meaning ‘fear’; it does not change with the speaker’s gender.
de + infinitivo
The preposition de introduces an infinitive clause that explains the object of the fear.
ser (infinitivo)
Infinitive of the verb ser, used here to talk about a possible permanent state (being rejected).
rejeitado(a) (particípio passado)
Past participle of rejeitar used as an adjective; it must agree in gender with the speaker or the subject.
🗨In Conversation
Você vai se candidatar ao programa?
Are you going to apply for the program?
Tenho medo de ser rejeitado(a).
I'm afraid of being rejected.
✕Common Mistakes
Tenho medo de ser rejeitado.
If the speaker is female, the participle must agree: ‘rejeitada’. Using the masculine form sounds like a mismatch.
Tenho medo de estar rejeitado.
‘Estar rejeitado’ describes a temporary state (e.g., being currently rejected), while the intended meaning is a possible future outcome, so ‘ser rejeitado’ is correct.
Tem medo de ser rejeitado.
‘Tem medo’ is third‑person singular; you need the first‑person form ‘Tenho medo’ to talk about yourself.
↔Alternatives
Tenho receio de ser rejeitado(a).
I’m apprehensive about being rejected.
Tenho medo de ser recusado(a).
I’m afraid of being turned down.
Tenho medo de não ser aceito(a).
I’m afraid of not being accepted.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian Portuguese, ‘medo de’ is the most common way to talk about a specific fear. You’ll also hear ‘receio de’ which sounds a bit more formal. Remember to match the gender of the participle (rejeitado/rejeitada) with the speaker or the person you’re referring to; otherwise the sentence sounds ungrammatical. In casual speech, many speakers drop the final ‘a’ in parentheses and simply say ‘rejeitado’ when the context makes gender clear.