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"to bother, annoy" in seven languages

Meaningto bother, annoy

Spanish

molestar

/molesˈtaɾ/

learned

French

déranger

/deʁɑ̃ʒe/

other source · French dé- + ranger 'to put in order' (from rang, Frankish *hring 'ring')

Italian

disturbare

/disturˈbare/

other source · Latin DISTURBĀRE 'to throw into disorder' (learned)

Very often dare fastidio: ti dà fastidio?

Portuguese

incomodar

/ĩkomoˈdah/

other source · Latin INCOMMODĀRE 'to inconvenience'

Molestar exists, but in Brazil it now suggests sexual harassment: avoid it for 'bother'.

Romanian

deranja

/deranˈʒa/

other source · French déranger

Catalan

molestar

/muləsˈta/

learned

English

bother

/ˈbɑðɚ/

native English · origin uncertain (perhaps Anglo-Irish)

English → Italianto bother, annoydisturbareNot relatedDifferent sources — learn this one fresh. But English has relatives: molest (a false friend).What English and Italian share

The Latin ancestor

MOLESTĀRE‘to trouble, annoy (from MOLESTUS 'burdensome')’

All six sisters descend from it, unless marked otherwise below.

The story

Classic trap: Spanish molestar is only 'to bother' (¿Te molesta el ruido?), while English molest has a criminal sense. French 'disarranges' you instead: Je ne vous dérange pas ?

English relatives: molest (a false friend)

Learn it

Practice the Core verbs deckQuiz a friend on it

In a sentence

  • es¿Te molesta la música?
  • frLa musique te dérange ?
  • itLa musica ti disturba?
  • ptA música te incomoda?
  • roTe deranjează muzica?
  • caEt molesta la música?
  • enDoes the music bother you?

More in Core verbs

All Core verbs words