How to say something is "annoying" in Spanish?

Question

I have been wondering how to say annoying, adjective and verb, in Spanish (ES). I come from the Northwest of the US and we use this word very often.
I have seen examples using molestar but none of them seem to be saying what I am trying to express.

For example:

These mosquitos are very annoying.
OMG! I can't believe how annoying Becky's voice is!
Stop annoying me! Stop! Stop!

score 14 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 20 '12 at 15:27

14

The word would be "molesto(a)" which is an adjective. As a verb it would be "molestar"

With your examples would be like so:

These mosquitos are very annoying. / Estos mosquitos son muy molestos.
OMG! I can't believe how annoying Becky's voice is! / ¡Dios mio! No puedo creer lo molesta que es la voz de Becky.
Stop annoying me! / ¡Deja de molestarme!

edited Jul 20 '12 at 15:27

JoulSauron

5,450
2
31
49

answered Jul 20 '12 at 14:15

Sergio Romero

3,438
18
22

7

also "irritante" – Laura Jul 20 '12 at 14:26
1

@Laura: Of course "irritante" could be used and it is correct but I do not think it is the best choice for this context for two reasons. IMHO "irritante" is something that is much more intense than annoying, something that I cannot stand anymore. Also, even though it is correct to say "Deja de irritarme" for "Stop annoying me" sounds funny and people (particularly teenagers) could make fun of whoever says that instead of stopping whatever they are doing. – Sergio Romero Jul 20 '12 at 14:47
2

for me depends on the context, foor example I would never say "una voz molesta" I would prefer "Una voz irritante" for the other cases, of course, "molesto" is usually better. – Laura Jul 20 '12 at 23:06
Hm, mosquear comes to mind, given your example. :) – tchrist Jul 26 '12 at 12:21
I've heard people complain using ¡Cómo enfadas! meaning something likeHow annoying!` – dockeryZ Dec 03 '14 at 18:34
Irritante is equivalent to vexxing. To vex is a lot stronger than to annoy. And having also the meaning of distressing it covers the comments by Laura and Sergio Romero – palopezv Dec 05 '14 at 15:13

score 4 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 17 '20 at 09:53

You could go with ser pesado o ser un incordio o ser un fastidio

Estos mosquitos son un incordio (alternativamente, Estos mosquitos no paran de incordiar)

Estos mosquitos son un fastidio (estos mosquitos me están fastidiando).

Fastidiar is closer to tease in some contexts, but would work here.

You are annoying me or Stop annoying me can be translated with incordiar o cabrear (this latter one is closer to "you are upsetting me" or "you are driving me mad")

Deja de incordiarme / Deja de cabrearme

Me estás incordiando

For something like Becky's voice is so annoying you could use molesto or cargante (this latter one is similar to "pesado")

Qué cargante eres con el temita, macho.

Qué cargante es ese sonido.

You can simply say fastidioso, no? – aris Apr 23 '20 at 14:54 — aris, Apr 23 '20 at 14:54

score 4 · Answer 3 · edited Jul 20 '12 at 23:05

4

También se usa enojar. Por ejemplo: No me enojes significa 'don't annoy me'.

edited Jul 20 '12 at 23:05

JoulSauron

5,450
2
31
49

answered Jul 20 '12 at 20:39

Paul

2,159
8
28
37

This could be added to the accepted question as a comment. – JoulSauron Jul 20 '12 at 20:46
1

@JoulSauron: It's a distinct answer. It deserves its own chance at upvotes (both answers got mine_. – Tom Au Jul 21 '12 at 00:12
@TomAu I guess that's why we have "community wiki" option, to improve an answer given by different users. – JoulSauron Jul 21 '12 at 16:27
Adjective: enojoso – leonbloy Jul 26 '12 at 23:11
I'd prefer "molesto" or "irritante": This is annoying: 'Esto es irritante' – Barranka Jul 29 '12 at 16:20
At least in Mexico the correct phrasing would be "No me hagas enojar", which then is a completely different thing to "annoying" – spiral Dec 03 '14 at 19:36

score 4 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 02 '12 at 01:14

Molesto/molestar son los términos más habituales en Español de España. Si utilizas enojado/enojar en España te entenderán pero suenan demasiado formales (suenan a castellano antiguo). Tambien existen alternativas coloquiales - vulgares (muy utilizadas) como:

'dar la brasa' = 'molestar'
'pesado/a' = 'molesto'
'plasta' (masculino y femenino) " = 'molesto'

"Juan es un pesado/plasta, no para de hablar", "¡Deja de darme la brasa, para de una vez!"

score 0 · Answer 5 · edited Dec 05 '14 at 09:49

0

In Argentina is very common to say 'insoportable'.

Los mosquitos son insoportables.

edited Dec 05 '14 at 09:49

JoulSauron

5,450
2
31
49

answered Dec 05 '14 at 05:31

gfa

11
1

I have no idea why this was downvoted. Here in Peru, we also call annoying things “insoportable(s)” (e.g., “calor insoportable” = “annoying heat”), and reserve “molestoso” for annoying sentient beings (e.g., “niño molestoso” = “annoying kid”). “Molesto” is almost never used as an adjective, except possibly in formal situations. – isekaijin Jan 15 '17 at 18:20
im not the downvoter, but "insoportable" is way stronger than "annoying" as far as i know, in fact i don't think anybody would say "annoying heat", insoportable is more like unbearable. – Brian H. Jan 16 '18 at 12:09

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered May 25 '22 at 19:27

0

We would say fastidioso, like you’re annoying me, getting on my nerves but then again we’re raised southern and from Michoacán

answered May 25 '22 at 19:27

user32690

1

I think this has already been suggested in a previous answer so this is more of a comment than an answer. – mdewey May 27 '22 at 12:20

How to say something is "annoying" in Spanish?

6 Answers6