Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| déranger | /de.ʁɑ̃.ʒe/ | |
| embêter | /ɑ̃.bɛ.te/ /ɑ̃.be.te/ |
|
| gêner | /ʒɛ.ne/ /ʒe.ne/ |
|
| bâdrer | Canada |
The various forms of the word 'bother' in French change depending on whether you are referring to an interruption, an annoyance or a physical inconvenience. The verb déranger is a common way to convey the general meaning of 'to bother'.
Which one should you use?
The choice of word depends on the specific type of bother: déranger is used when you are interrupting someone's peace, privacy or a specific activity. embêter is used when someone is being a nuisance or pestering someone. And gêner is used when the bother refers to causing physical discomfort, social awkwardness or logistical inconvenience. While déranger is a neutral option, embêter often has a more lighthearted or colloquial feel.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Embêter is an informal verb used to express annoyance. In contrast, déranger is a neutral term. While the word ennuyer was not listed as a primary form, it may be considered slightly more formal than embêter.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In parts of Canada, the word bâdrer is used as a regionalism to mean bother or annoy.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The word déranger is pronounced /de.ʁɑ̃.ʒe/ and has three syllables.
When do people say it?
The phrase Ça ne me dérange pas is a common way to say 'It doesn't bother me' or to indicate that something is not a problem.
Did you know?
- The word gêner has a surprisingly dark history, originating from a word related to the torture one might endure during a confession.
- The verb ennuyer is used for 'to bother', but it also functions as the standard way to say 'to be bored'.
- The verb embêter is so common in casual speech that it is often used as a polite euphemism to avoid using more vulgar verbs for 'bothering' or 'annoying'.
Examples in context
- Il ne t'embêtera plus.He won't bother you anymore.This sentence shows how to use the verb embêter in a negative future context.Tatoeba #10783071 by lbdx, translation #5986885 by Hybrid
- Je ne veux pas l'embêter.I don't want to bother her.This sentence shows a desire to avoid bothering someone using embêter.Tatoeba #4223869 by michelnialon, translation #3919288 by CH
- Je ne veux pas té déranger.I don't want to bother you.This sentence illustrates the use of déranger to express a desire not to disturb someone.Tatoeba #5592915 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #5592866 by CK
- Excusez-moi de vous déranger, mais pourriez-vous m'aider s'il vous plaît?Excuse me for bothering you, but could you please help me?
- J'espère ne pas vous importuner, mais j'ai quelques questions supplémentaires.I hope I'm not bothering you, but I have a few additional questions.
- Tu peux arrêter de m'embêter, s'il te plaît?Can you please stop bothering me?
- Cette situation m'ennuie vraiment.This situation really bothers me.
- 40 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Chloé enters the room while Nathan is working.
- ChloéJe peux te déranger un instant ?Can I bother you for a moment?
- NathanNon, tu ne me déranges pas du tout.No, you are not bothering me at all.
- ChloéTu es très occupé, Nathan ?Are you very busy, Nathan?
- NathanUn peu, mais je peux t'aider.A little bit, but I can help you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “bother” translations and entries déranger, embêter, gêner, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries déranger, embêter, gêner, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
