Inklingo

How to Say "to pester" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “to pester” is “acosar” — use 'acosar' when the 'pestering' involves persistent, often unwelcome, attention or requests, particularly in a way that could feel like harassment..

acosar🔊B1

Use 'acosar' when the 'pestering' involves persistent, often unwelcome, attention or requests, particularly in a way that could feel like harassment.

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atormentar🔊B2

Choose 'atormentar' when someone is repeatedly asking for something to the point of causing significant distress or agitation.

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bombardear🔊B2

Use 'bombardear' when the pestering is characterized by a high volume of communication, like an overwhelming number of emails or messages.

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freírB2

'Freír' is a very informal option for when someone is intensely bothering you with repeated actions, often similar to 'bombardear' with messages.

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brear🔊B2

Use 'brear' when someone is persistently annoying you with repeated actions, like jokes or comments, often in a teasing manner.

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machacar🔊B2

Choose 'machacar' when the pestering involves constantly repeating the same request or point, to the verge of being unbearable.

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moler🔊B2

Use 'moler' in a figurative sense when something, like a long event or a persistent situation, wears you down and annoys you considerably.

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English → Spanish

acosar

/ah-ko-SAR//akoˈsaɾ/

verbB1formal/informal
Use 'acosar' when the 'pestering' involves persistent, often unwelcome, attention or requests, particularly in a way that could feel like harassment.
A small bird being persistently followed and surrounded by several noisy, larger birds in a bright garden.

Examples

Es ilegal acosar a los compañeros de trabajo.

It is illegal to harass co-workers.

No me acoses con tantas preguntas ahora mismo.

Don't pester me with so many questions right now.

El niño denunció que otros estudiantes lo acosaban.

The boy reported that other students were bullying him.

The 'Personal A'

Since 'acosar' usually involves a person receiving the action, you must use the word 'a' before the person's name or title. For example: 'Acosar a su vecino'.

Direct Object Use

In Spanish, the person being harassed is treated as the direct target. This means you use pronouns like 'lo', 'la', or 'los' to refer back to them.

Confusion with 'Cazar'

Mistake: “Using 'cazar' when you mean social bullying.”

Correction: Use 'acosar' for persistent bothering or bullying; 'cazar' is specifically for hunting animals for sport or food.

atormentar

/ah-tor-men-TAR//atormenˈtar/

verbB2informal
Choose 'atormentar' when someone is repeatedly asking for something to the point of causing significant distress or agitation.
A person trying to read a book while several small, buzzing flies circle their head and shoulders.

Examples

Los periodistas atormentaron al actor con preguntas sobre su divorcio.

The journalists plagued the actor with questions about his divorce.

Deja de atormentar a tu hermano con ese juguete.

Stop pestering your brother with that toy.

Who receives the action?

Since this involves doing something to a person, you usually need to use 'a' before the person's name. Example: 'Atormentan a los vecinos'.

bombardear

/bohm-bar-deh-ahr//bombarðeˈar/

verbB2informal
Use 'bombardear' when the pestering is characterized by a high volume of communication, like an overwhelming number of emails or messages.
A small character overwhelmed by a massive pile of falling colorful envelopes.

Examples

Mi jefe me bombardea a correos electrónicos todo el fin de semana.

My boss bombards me with emails all weekend.

Los niños me bombardearon a preguntas sobre el viaje.

The kids showered me with questions about the trip.

No bombardees a tu amigo con tus problemas personales.

Don't pester your friend with your personal problems.

Using 'a' for the medium

When you say what you are bombarding someone WITH, Spanish often uses 'a' instead of 'con'. Example: 'Me bombardearon a preguntas' (They bombarded me with questions).

Missing the recipient

Mistake: “Saying 'Bombardearon preguntas' to mean they asked a lot.”

Correction: You must say WHO was bombarded. Use: 'Bombardearon a Pedro a preguntas'.

freír

verbB2very informal
'Freír' is a very informal option for when someone is intensely bothering you with repeated actions, often similar to 'bombardear' with messages.

Examples

Mi jefe me está friendo a correos electrónicos.

My boss is bombarding me with emails.

brear

/breh-ahr//bɾeˈaɾ/

verbB2informal
Use 'brear' when someone is persistently annoying you with repeated actions, like jokes or comments, often in a teasing manner.
A small, persistent mosquito flying around a person's ear while they try to read a book.

Examples

Mis amigos me brean a bromas cada vez que me ven.

My friends pester me with jokes every time they see me.

El sol nos breó durante toda la caminata.

The sun beat down on us and exhausted us during the whole walk.

No me brees con tantas preguntas, por favor.

Don't badger me with so many questions, please.

Using the 'Personal A'

When 'brear' is used to mean pestering a person, you must use the word 'a' before the person's name or pronoun, like in 'brear a Juan'.

False Friend Alert

Mistake: “I need to brear more deeply.”

Correction: Brear does NOT mean to breathe (respirar). It means to pester or to tar.

machacar

/mah-chah-kar//matʃaˈkaɾ/

verbB2informal
Choose 'machacar' when the pestering involves constantly repeating the same request or point, to the verge of being unbearable.
A small bird chirping persistently at a larger, annoyed-looking bird on a tree branch.

Examples

Deja de machacarme con lo mismo siempre.

Stop harping on about the same thing to me all the time.

Mi jefe me está machacando con el informe.

My boss is pestering me about the report.

Using Pronouns

When someone is annoying you, use the pronoun for 'me' or 'you' right before the verb: 'Me machacas' (You are pestering me).

moler

/mo-LEHR//moˈleɾ/

verbB2informal
Use 'moler' in a figurative sense when something, like a long event or a persistent situation, wears you down and annoys you considerably.
A tired person sitting on a park bench with their head down and a heavy backpack on the ground.

Examples

Ese partido de fútbol me molió.

That soccer game wore me out.

Deja de molerme a preguntas.

Stop pestering me with questions.

Estoy molido después de trabajar doce horas.

I am exhausted (literally 'ground up') after working twelve hours.

Using 'Molido' as an Adjective

While 'moler' is the action of exhausting someone, you will most often hear 'molido' (the past participle) used with 'estar' to mean 'I am exhausted'.

Moler vs. Molestar

Mistake: “Me molió mucho que llegaras tarde.”

Correction: Me molestó mucho que llegaras tarde. (Use 'molestar' for general annoyance; use 'moler' specifically for physical exhaustion or pestering with questions/blows.)

Acosar vs. Atormentar

Learners often confuse 'acosar' and 'atormentar'. Remember that 'acosar' implies a more persistent, potentially harassing attention, while 'atormentar' specifically relates to the distress caused by constant requests for something. Think of 'acosar' as a broader unwanted focus and 'atormentar' as the resulting suffering from demands.

Related Translations

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