How to Say "to annoy" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to annoy” is “molestar” — use this for general, mild irritation or bothering someone, often in a polite or everyday context.
molestar
moh-lehs-tahrmolesˈtaɾ
Examples
Por favor, no molestes al perro mientras come.
Please, don't bother the dog while it eats.
¿Le molesta si abro la ventana?
Does it bother you if I open the window?
Me molesta mucho el ruido de la calle.
The street noise annoys me a lot.
Using 'Molestar' like 'Gustar'
When talking about things that bother you, 'molestar' often works backwards, just like 'gustar' (to like). You use 'me', 'te', 'le', etc., followed by the verb. Example: 'Me molesta el calor' (The heat bothers me).
Using 'Molestar' for 'To be Bothered'
Mistake: “Estoy molestando (I am bothered).”
Correction: Estoy molesto/a (I am bothered/annoyed). 'Molestar' means 'to annoy,' so 'estoy molestando' means 'I am annoying (someone).'
irritar
ee-ree-TARiriˈtaɾ
Examples
Ese ruido constante me irrita mucho.
That constant noise annoys me a lot.
No lo digas más, solo vas a irritar a tu padre.
Don't say it anymore; you're only going to make your father angry.
Me irrita que la gente llegue tarde.
It annoys me when people arrive late.
Expressing Feelings
When you say something annoys you, use the structure 'Me irrita que...' followed by a special verb form (subjunctive). Example: 'Me irrita que grites' (It annoys me that you shout).
The 'Self' Form
Use 'irritarse' (adding 'se' at the end) when you want to say someone gets annoyed themselves. For example, 'Él se irrita fácilmente' means 'He gets annoyed easily.'
Using 'Irritar' vs. 'Molestar'
Mistake: “Using 'irritar' for every small bother.”
Correction: 'Molestar' is for generic bothering; 'irritar' implies a stronger sense of frustration or a loss of patience.
enfadar
en-fa-DARenfaˈðaɾ
Examples
Sus mentiras me van a enfadar mucho.
His lies are going to make me very angry.
Me enfada que no recojas tu habitación.
It annoys me that you don't clean up your room.
No quería enfadar a nadie con mi comentario.
I didn't want to upset anyone with my comment.
Making others vs. Becoming
By itself, 'enfadar' means you are making someone else angry. To say you are getting angry yourself, you'll need the reflexive 'se' version: enfadarse.
The 'Gustar' Pattern
You can use this word like 'to like' (gustar). For example, 'Me enfada tu actitud' literally means 'Your attitude angers me.'
Angry vs. To Anger
Mistake: “Estoy enfadar.”
Correction: Estoy enfadado (if you're a boy) or estoy enfadada (if you're a girl). Use 'enfadar' only for the action of making someone mad.
enojar
eh-noh-HARe.noˈxaɾ
Examples
Su actitud siempre enoja a los clientes.
His attitude always angers the customers.
No quiero enojarte, solo quiero ayudarte.
I don't want to make you angry, I just want to help you.
La noticia enojó profundamente a toda la población.
The news deeply angered the entire population.
Direct Object
When using 'enojar' transitively, the person who gets angry is the direct object (the receiver of the action). You can replace them with 'lo/la/los/las' or 'le/les' depending on regional use.
Structure Contrast
This verb is structured like 'Yo enojo a mi perro' (I anger my dog). Compare this to the reflexive form where the anger stays with the subject: 'Mi perro se enoja' (My dog gets angry).
fastidiar
fas-tee-dee-AHRfastiˈðjaɾ
Examples
Deja de fastidiar a tu hermana.
Stop annoying your sister.
Me fastidia mucho el ruido de la calle.
The street noise really bothers me.
Le fastidia que la gente no sea puntual.
It bugs him when people aren't punctual.
Using 'Fastidiar' like 'Gustar'
When you want to say something bothers you, use 'me fastidia'. The thing that is annoying becomes the subject, just like with 'me gusta'.
Special Verb Form for Wishes
If you are telling someone 'I hope that doesn't annoy you,' you must use the special subjunctive form: 'Espero que no te fastidie'.
Wrong Word for 'Bored'
Mistake: “Saying 'estoy fastidiado' to mean 'I am bored'.”
Correction: Say 'estoy aburrido'. Use 'estoy fastidiado' only when you are annoyed or upset about something.
disgustar
dees-goos-TARdisɡusˈtaɾ
Examples
Me disgusta mucho la impuntualidad.
I dislike tardiness very much.
A mis padres les disgusta que no comas verduras.
It upsets my parents that you don't eat vegetables.
No quiero disgustar a nadie con mi opinión.
I don't want to upset anyone with my opinion.
The 'Backwards' Verb Rule
This verb works like 'gustar'. The thing being disliked is the subject, so you use 'me', 'te', 'le', etc., to show who is feeling the dislike.
Matching the Ending
The verb ending changes based on the thing you dislike. If it's one thing, use 'disgusta'. If it's plural, use 'disgustan'.
English Word Order
Mistake: “Yo disgusto el ruido.”
Correction: Me disgusta el ruido. In Spanish, the noise 'disgusts me' rather than 'I disgust the noise'.
cabrear
kah-breh-ahrka.βɾeˈaɾ
Examples
Ese ruido constante me va a cabrear.
That constant noise is going to annoy me.
No le digas eso a tu jefe, lo vas a cabrear.
Don't say that to your boss, you're going to make him angry.
Me cabrea que la gente llegue tarde.
It pisses me off when people arrive late.
Using it like 'Gustar'
When you want to say something 'annoys you,' the thing causing the anger is the subject. Example: 'Me cabrea tu actitud' (Your attitude pisses me off).
Making it Personal
To say YOU are getting angry, you must add the little 'self' words like 'me' or 'se'. This changes it to 'cabrearse'.
Too informal for work
Mistake: “Using 'cabrear' in a formal meeting with a CEO.”
Correction: Use 'enfadar' or 'molestar' instead. 'Cabrear' is very casual and might sound a bit rude in high-level business settings.
hartar
ar-TARaɾˈtaɾ
Examples
Tus quejas me van a hartar.
Your complaints are going to annoy me.
Ese ruido termina por hartar a cualquiera.
That noise ends up tiring anyone out.
No quiero hartarte con mis problemas personales.
I don't want to bore you with my personal problems.
Using 'Hartar' vs 'Hartarse'
Use 'hartar' when you are annoying someone else. Use the reflexive 'hartarse' (adding -se to the end) when you are the one getting fed up.
The preposition 'de'
When you want to say what specifically is annoying you, use the word 'de' after the verb, as in 'Me harté de esperar' (I got fed up with waiting).
Confusing 'Hartar' with 'Odiar'
Mistake: “Using hartar to mean 'I hate it' permanently.”
Correction: Hartar is usually about reaching a limit of patience. Use 'odiar' for hate and 'hartar' for losing your cool after too much of something.
incomodar
een-koh-moh-dariŋkomoˈðar
Examples
¿Te incomoda la luz del sol?
Does the sunlight bother you?
No quiero incomodarte con tantas preguntas.
I don't want to make you uncomfortable with so many questions.
Su comentario sobre el dinero incomodó a todos los presentes.
His comment about money made everyone present feel awkward.
Using 'Le' with Incomodar
When 'incomodar' means someone is causing discomfort to another person, we often use words like 'le', 'me', or 'te' to point to the person being affected. For example: 'Esa pregunta le incomodó' (That question made him feel awkward).
The Reflexive 'Incomodarse'
If you add 'se' to the end (incomodarse), it means you are the one feeling upset or getting bothered by something.
False Friend: Accommodate
Mistake: “Using 'incomodar' to mean helping someone find a place to stay.”
Correction: Use 'alojar' or 'hospedar' for staying somewhere. 'Incomodar' only means to cause discomfort.
joder
ho-DARExoˈðer
Examples
He jodido el ordenador con el café.
I've screwed up the computer with the coffee.
No me jodas mientras estoy trabajando.
Don't bother me while I'm working.
Si no estudiaste, ahora te jodes.
If you didn't study, now you're screwed (deal with it).
Adding 'se' for consequence
When you use 'joderse', it describes someone having to accept a bad situation, like saying 'too bad for you' or 'I'm screwed'.
The power of 'No jodas'
This phrase is used to react to surprising news, much like 'No way!' or 'Shut up!' in English.
Formal Faux Pas
Mistake: “Using 'joder' in a job interview or with a teacher.”
Correction: Use 'molestar' (to bother) or 'arruinar' (to ruin) instead. 'Joder' is way too strong for professional settings.
fregar
fre-GAHRfɾeˈɣaɾ
Examples
¡No me friegues! Estoy tratando de trabajar.
Don't bug me! I'm trying to work.
Ya la fregamos, perdimos las llaves.
We've messed up now, we lost the keys.
Slang use of 'la'
When people say 'la fregué', they are using 'la' to mean 'the situation'. It's a common way to say 'I messed it up' without naming a specific thing.
Use with caution
Mistake: “Using 'fregar' in a job interview.”
Correction: This meaning of 'fregar' is very informal. Use 'molestar' or 'cometer un error' in professional settings.
marear
mah-reh-ahrmaɾeˈaɾ
Examples
¡No me marees más con ese tema!
Don't bother me anymore with that topic!
Nos han mareado con el cambio de horario.
They've messed us around with the schedule change.
Deja de marear al gato, pobrecito.
Stop annoying the cat, poor thing.
Use with Direct Objects
When you annoy 'someone,' you use a direct object: 'No la marees' (Don't annoy her).
Overusing 'molestar'
Mistake: “Always using 'molestar' for everything.”
Correction: Use 'marear' specifically when someone is being repetitive or confusing you with too much information.
reventar
re-ben-TARreβenˈtaɾ
Examples
Ese trabajo me va a reventar.
That job is going to exhaust me.
Me revienta que llegues tarde siempre.
It really annoys me that you're always late.
Estamos reventados después de la caminata.
We are exhausted after the hike.
Using 'Reventado' as an Adjective
When you want to say you are tired, use 'estar reventado'. It's much stronger than just saying 'cansado' (tired).
Molestar vs. Irritar/Enfadar
Related Translations
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