Inklingo

How to Say "troublesome" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “troublesome” is “molesta” — use 'molesta' when describing something or someone that is causing annoyance, irritation, or a general sense of bother, like an insect or a recurring problem..

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molesta

/moh-LEH-stah//moˈlesta/

AdjectiveA2General
Use 'molesta' when describing something or someone that is causing annoyance, irritation, or a general sense of bother, like an insect or a recurring problem.
A cartoon person with a slightly irritated expression trying to swat a small mosquito buzzing loudly near their ear.

Examples

El tráfico en esta ciudad es muy molesto cada mañana.

The traffic in this city is very troublesome every morning.

La mosca es muy molesta. No me deja concentrarme.

The fly is very annoying. It won't let me concentrate.

Esa actitud tan pesimista es realmente molesta.

That pessimistic attitude is genuinely bothersome.

Tu hermana estaba un poco molesta después de la discusión.

Your sister was a little annoyed after the argument.

Adjective Agreement

As an adjective, 'molesta' is the feminine version of 'molesto' and must always be used when describing a feminine noun (like 'la música' or 'la gente').

Forgetting the Gender

Mistake: “El ruido es muy molesta.”

Correction: El ruido es muy *molesto*. (Noise is masculine, so the adjective must also be masculine.)

llevado

/yeh-VAH-doh//ʎeˈβa.ðo/

AdjectiveB2Colloquial
Use 'llevado' colloquially to describe a child or young person who is difficult, unruly, or prone to getting into trouble.
A small child confidently standing on a tall stack of books, reaching high toward a cookie jar.

Examples

Mi sobrino es muy llevado, siempre está metiéndose en líos.

My nephew is very troublesome, he's always getting into scrapes.

No seas tan llevado, pide permiso antes de entrar.

Don't be so rash/bold, ask for permission before entering.

Ese niño es muy llevado; siempre está subiendo a los árboles.

That child is very daring; he's always climbing trees.

Using 'Ser' for Personality

This meaning uses the verb ser because it describes a fundamental personality trait or characteristic: 'Es llevado' (He is bold/daring).

Person vs. Annoyance

Learners often confuse 'llevado' and 'molesta' by using 'molesta' for difficult children. Remember, 'molesta' describes something that causes annoyance, while 'llevado' specifically refers to a child who is unruly or mischievous.

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