What does it mean word for word?
The word is composed of the gerund molestando (annoying/bothering) and the enclitic pronoun me (me).
Which one should you use?
Other expressions exist: Me está molestando can be used to express annoyance when someone or something is bothering you in informal situations, Me saca de quicio is an expressive way to say annoying me signifying that something or someone is getting on your nerves and Me tiene harto/a is an informal phrase that shows you are fed up or tired of someone or something.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the object pronoun me is attached directly to the end of the gerund form.
How do you pronounce it?
/molestandome/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly assume molestar means 'to molest' in a sexual sense, but in Spanish, its primary meaning is to bother, annoy or disturb.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking regions, you can express intense annoyance by saying someone 'is scratching your nerves' using the phrase Me está tocando las narices. This translates literally to 'it is touching my nose'.
- While molestándome means 'annoying me', the phrase me saca de quicio literally describes being pushed out of a 'hinge' or 'pivot'. It suggests the person is so annoyed that they have been knocked off their mental axis.
- When using me tiene harto to say they are annoyed, a speaker is using a word that literally means 'sated' or 'full'. It compares the feeling of being fed up to the discomfort of eating too much food.
Examples in context
- Estoy molesta con la tardanza del informe.I am annoyed with the delay of the report.
- Me resulta molesto que siempre lleguen tarde a las reuniones.It annoys me that they always arrive late to the meetings.
- Me está molestando el ruido de la televisión.The noise from the television is annoying me.
- Mi vecino con su música alta me saca de quicio.My neighbor with his loud music annoys me.
- Mi hermano con sus bromas me tiene harta.My brother with his jokes annoys me.
- Ese ruido constante está molestándome.That constant noise is annoying me.
- Deja de estar molestándome mientras estudio.Stop annoying me while I study.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are at a library trying to work.
- LucíaDaniel, estás molestándome con el sonido de tu teclado.Daniel, you are annoying me with the sound of your keyboard.
- DanielLo siento, Lucía, no me di cuenta.I'm sorry, Lucía, I didn't realize.
- LucíaGracias, es que necesito concentrarme.Thanks, it's just that I need to concentrate.
- DanielNo volverá a pasar.It won't happen again.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
