How to Say "to meddle" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “to meddle” is “entrometerse” — use this when someone is getting involved in a situation or personal affairs that do not concern them, often intrusively.
entrometerse
en-tro-meh-TEHR-sehentɾomeˈteɾse
Examples
No te entrometas en mis asuntos personales.
Don't meddle in my personal affairs.
Mi vecina siempre se entromete en todo lo que hacemos.
My neighbor always interferes in everything we do.
Es de mala educación entrometerse en una conversación ajena.
It is rude to butt into someone else's conversation.
The 'Se' Requirement
This verb is always used with a pronoun (me, te, se, etc.) that matches the person doing the action. It's like saying 'to meddle oneself' into a situation.
Using 'En' for Context
In Spanish, we use the word 'en' (in) immediately after the verb to point to the thing being meddled in, like 'entrometerse en el plan'.
Forgetting the Pronoun
Mistake: “Él siempre entromete en mis cosas.”
Correction: Él siempre se entromete en mis cosas. You must include 'se' because the action is directed back toward the subject's behavior.
meterse
meh-TEHR-sehmeˈteɾ.se
Examples
No te metas en mis asuntos, por favor.
Don't interfere in my business, please.
Siempre se mete en discusiones que no le corresponden.
He always gets involved in arguments that don't concern him.
Use with 'en'
When 'meterse' means 'to interfere,' it is almost always followed by the preposition 'en' (in/into): 'meterse en algo' (to get into something).
meter
meh-TEHRmeˈteɾ
Examples
No te metas en mis problemas, por favor.
Don't get involved in my problems, please.
Ella se metió a estudiar medicina el año pasado.
She started studying medicine last year. (She 'got into' studying it.)
¿Por qué siempre te tienes que meter en lo que no te importa?
Why do you always have to butt into what doesn't concern you?
The Self-Action Verb (Reflexive)
When 'meterse' is used, it means the subject is doing the action to themselves or for themselves. You need the reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nos, os, se).
Key Prepositions
Use 'meterse EN' for getting involved in a situation or trouble, and 'meterse A' for starting a new activity or profession.
Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun
Mistake: “No mete en eso.”
Correction: No te metas en eso. (You must include the 'te' to make it mean 'get involved' or 'interfere'.)
interferir
een-tehr-feh-REERinteɾfeˈɾiɾ
Examples
No quiero interferir en tus decisiones personales.
I don't want to interfere in your personal decisions.
Mi trabajo nuevo interfiere con mis clases de la tarde.
My new job clashes with my afternoon classes.
Deja de interferir; ellos pueden resolverlo solos.
Stop meddling; they can solve it themselves.
The 'E' to 'IE' Change
For most present tense forms, the middle 'e' changes to 'ie' when you stress it (e.g., Yo interfiero). It stays 'e' when you don't stress that part (e.g., Nosotros interferimos).
Preposition 'En'
When talking about getting involved in a situation or someone's life, you almost always use the word 'en' after interferir.
Using 'Con' instead of 'En'
Mistake: “No quiero interferir con tu vida.”
Correction: No quiero interferir en tu vida. While 'con' is used for signals or schedules, 'en' is the standard for personal/social interference.
hurgar
oor-GAHRuɾˈɣaɾ
Examples
No quiero hurgar en el pasado.
I don't want to stir up the past.
Deja de hurgar en mis asuntos personales.
Stop meddling in my personal affairs.
Tus preguntas solo sirven para hurgar en la herida.
Your questions only serve to rub salt in the wound (stir up the pain).
Figurative Meaning
Just like digging in a bag, this word is used for 'digging' into people's lives or memories.
Entrometerse vs. Meterse
Related Translations
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